Accessing known information via a devicve to determine if the device is communicating with a server

ABSTRACT

A server provides activities and/or services to a player through a device. In response to a request from the device, information known to a player is determined and sent to the device via the server. In this fashion, verification can be made that the device is communicating with the server.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to the following U.S. patentapplications, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety for the purpose of enablement and written description: Ser. No.10/771,221, filed on Feb. 3, 2004; Ser. No. 10/771,076, filed on Feb. 3,2004; Ser. No. 10/759,693, filed on Jan. 15, 2004; Ser. No. 10/687,302,filed on Oct. 14, 2003; Ser. No. 10/667,923, filed on Sep. 22, 2003;Ser. No. 10/667,755, filed on Sep. 22, 2003; Ser. No. 10/654,280, filedon Sep. 3, 2003; Ser. No. 10/651,537, filed on Aug. 29, 2003; Ser. No.10/194,186, filed on Jul. 12, 2002; Ser. No. 10/194,019, filed on Jul.12, 2002; Ser. No. 10/194,018, filed on Jul. 12, 2002; Ser. No.10/193,980, filed on Jul. 12, 2002; Ser. No. 10/193,978, filed on Jul.12, 2002; Ser. No. 10/193,977, filed on Jul. 12, 2002; Ser. No.10/193,971, filed on Jul. 12, 2002; Ser. No. 10/193,817, filed on Jul.12, 2002; Ser. No. 09/846,025, filed on Apr. 30, 2001; Ser. No.09/378,327, filed on Aug. 20, 1999; Ser. No. 9/267,865, filed on Mar.12, 1999; Ser. No. 11/406,783, filed Apr. 18, 2006; Ser. No. 11/022,394,filed on Dec. 22, 2004; Ser. No. 11/021,848, filed on Dec. 22, 2004;Ser. No. 11/018,978, filed on Dec. 21, 2004; Ser. No. 10/983,279, filedon Nov. 5, 2004; Ser. No. 10/963,399, filed on Oct. 12, 2004; Ser. No.10/879,972, filed on Jun. 28, 2004; Ser. No. 10/836,999, filed on Apr.29, 2004; Ser. No. 10/836,975, filed on Apr. 29, 2004; Ser. No.10/836,958, filed on Apr. 29, 2004; Ser. No. 10/836,077, filed on Apr.29, 2004; Ser. No. 10/835,995, filed on Apr. 29, 2004; Ser. No.11/171,809, filed on Jun. 29, 2005; Ser. No. 11/076,561, filed on Mar.9, 2005; Ser. No. 11/063,311, filed on Feb. 21, 2005; Ser. No.11/032,724, filed on Jan. 10, 2005; Ser. No. 10/822,484, filed on Apr.12, 2004; Ser. No. 10/816,238, filed on Apr. 1, 2004; Ser. No.10/798,106, filed on Mar. 10, 2004; Ser. No. 10/784,353, filed on Feb.23, 2004; Ser. No. 11/403,722, filed on Apr. 12, 2006; Ser. No.11/397,596, filed on Apr. 3, 2006; Ser. No. 11/335,253, filed on Jan.18, 2006; Ser. No. 11/335,210, filed on Jan. 18, 2006; Ser. No.11/334,848, filed on Jan. 18, 2006; Ser. No. 11/256,568, filed on Oct.21, 2005; Ser. No. 11/210,482, filed on Aug. 24, 2005; Ser. No.11/201,830, filed on Aug. 10, 2005; Ser. No. 11/201,812, filed on Aug.10, 2005; Ser. No. 11/199,964, filed on Aug. 9, 2005; Ser. No.11/199,835, filed on Aug. 9, 2005; Ser. No. 11/199,831, filed on Aug. 9,2005; Ser. No. 11/190,613, filed on Jul. 26, 2005; Ser. No. 11/172,018,filed on Jun. 29, 2005; Ser. No. 10/616,779, filed on Jul. 10, 2003;Ser. No. 10/453,769, filed on Jun. 3, 2003; Ser. No. 10/453,761, filedon Jun. 3, 2003; Ser. No. 10/410,197, filed on Apr. 10, 2003; Ser. No.10/404,043, filed on Apr. 2, 2003; Ser. No. 10/287,332, filed on Nov. 1,2002; and Ser. No. 10/194,358, filed on Jul. 12, 2002.

GUIDELINES FOR INTERPRETING THE PRESENT APPLICATION Terms

The term “herein” means “in the present application, including anythingwhich may be incorporated by reference”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The term “product” means any machine, manufacture and/or composition ofmatter, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term “process” means any process, algorithm, method or the like,unless expressly specified otherwise.

Each process (whether called a method, algorithm or otherwise)inherently includes one or more steps, and therefore all references to a“step” or “steps” of a process have an inherent antecedent basis in themere recitation of the term ‘process’ or a like term. Accordingly, anyreference in a claim to a ‘step’ or ‘steps’ of a process has sufficientantecedent basis.

The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof mean“including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term “plurality” means “two or more”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

The phrase “at least one of”, when such phrase modifies a plurality ofthings (such as an enumerated list of things), means any combination ofone or more of those things, unless expressly specified otherwise. Forexample, the phrase “at least one of a widget, a car and a wheel” meanseither (i) a widget, (ii) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car,(v) a widget and a wheel, (vi) a car and a wheel, or (vii) a widget, acar and a wheel. The phrase “at least one of”, when such phrase modifiesa plurality of things, does not mean “one of each of” the plurality ofthings.

Numerical terms such as “one”, “two”, etc. when used as cardinal numbersto indicate quantity of something (e.g., one widget, two widgets), meanthe quantity indicated by that numerical term, but do not mean at leastthe quantity indicated by that numerical term. For example, the phrase“one widget” does not mean “at least one widget”, and therefore thephrase “one widget” does not cover, e.g., two widgets.

The term “represent” and like terms are not exclusive, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. For example, the term “represents” do not mean“represents only”, unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words,the phrase “the data represents a credit card number” describes both“the data represents only a credit card number” and “the data representsa credit card number and the data also represents something else”.

The phrase “based on” does not mean “based only on”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “based on” describesboth “based only on” and “based at least on”. The phrase “based at leaston” is equivalent to the phrase “based at least in part on”.

The term “whereby” is used herein only to precede a clause or other setof words that express only the intended result, objective or consequenceof something that is previously and explicitly recited. Thus, when theterm “whereby” is used in a claim, the clause or other words that theterm “whereby” modifies do not establish specific further limitations ofthe claim or otherwise restricts the meaning or scope of the claim.

The term “i.e.” and like terms mean “that is”, and thus limits the termor phrase it explains. For example, in the sentence “the computer sendsdata (i.e., instructions) over the Internet”, the term “i.e.” explainsthat “instructions” are the “data” that the computer sends over theInternet.

The term “e.g.” and like terms mean “for example”, and thus does notlimit the term or phrase it explains. For example, in the sentence “thecomputer sends data (e.g., instructions, a data structure) over theInternet”, the term “e.g.” explains that “instructions” are an exampleof “data” that the computer may send over the Internet, and alsoexplains that “a data structure” is an example of “data” that thecomputer may send over the Internet. However, both “instructions” and “adata structure” are merely examples of “data”, and other things besides“instructions” and “a data structure” can be “data”.

The term “respective” and like terms mean “taken individually”. Thus iftwo or more things have “respective” characteristics, then each suchthing has its own characteristic, and these characteristics can bedifferent from each other but need not be. For example, the phrase “eachof two machines has a respective function” means that the first suchmachine has a function and the second such machine has a function aswell. The function of the first machine may or may not be the same asthe function of the second machine.

Any given numerical range shall include whole and fractions of numberswithin the range. For example, the range “1 to 10” shall be interpretedto specifically include whole numbers between 1 and 10 (e.g., 1, 2, 3,4, . . . 9) and non-whole numbers (e.g., 1.1, 1.2, . . . 1.9).

Where two or more terms or phrases are synonymous (e.g., because of anexplicit statement that the terms or phrases are synonymous), instancesof one such term/phrase does not mean instances of another suchterm/phrase must have a different meaning. For example, where astatement renders the meaning of “including” to be synonymous with“including but not limited to”, the mere usage of the phrase “includingbut not limited to” does not mean that the term “including” meanssomething other than “including but not limited to”.

The term “invention” and the like mean “the one or more inventionsdisclosed in this application”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “theembodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “someembodiments”, “certain embodiments”, “one embodiment”, “anotherembodiment” and the like mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments ofthe disclosed invention(s)”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term “variation” of an invention means an embodiment of theinvention, unless expressly specified otherwise.

A reference to “another embodiment” in describing an embodiment does notimply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with anotherembodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referencedembodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise.

Determining

The term “determining” and grammatical variants thereof (e.g., todetermine a price, determining a value, determine an object which meetsa certain criterion) is used in an extremely broad sense. The term“determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions and therefore“determining” can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving,investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database oranother data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, “determining”can include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g.,accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also, “determining” caninclude resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like.

The term “determining” does not imply certainty or absolute precision,and therefore “determining” can include estimating, extrapolating,predicting, guessing and the like.

The term “determining” does not imply that mathematical processing mustbe performed, and does not imply that numerical methods must be used,and does not imply that an algorithm or process is used.

The term “determining” does not imply that any particular device must beused. For example, a computer need not necessarily perform thedetermining.

Forms of Sentences

Where a limitation of a first claim would cover one of a feature as wellas more than one of a feature (e.g., a limitation such as “at least onewidget” covers one widget as well as more than one widget), and where ina second claim that depends on the first claim, the second claim uses adefinite article “the” to refer to the limitation (e.g., “the widget”),this does not imply that the first claim covers only one of the feature,and this does not imply that the second claim covers only one of thefeature (e.g., “the widget” can cover both one widget and more than onewidget).

When an ordinal number (such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on) isused as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is used (unlessexpressly specified otherwise) merely to indicate a particular feature,such as to distinguish that particular feature from another feature thatis described by the same term or by a similar term. For example, a“first widget” may be so named merely to distinguish it from, e.g., a“second widget”. Thus, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and“second” before the term “widget” does not indicate any otherrelationship between the two widgets, and likewise does not indicate anyother characteristics of either or both widgets. For example, the mereusage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term“widget” (1) does not indicate that either widget comes before or afterany other in order or location; (2) does not indicate that either widgetoccurs or acts before or after any other in time; and (3) does notindicate that either widget ranks above or below any other, as inimportance or quality. In addition, the mere usage of ordinal numbersdoes not define a numerical limit to the features identified with theordinal numbers. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers“first” and “second” before the term “widget” does not indicate thatthere must be no more than two widgets.

When a single device or article is described herein, more than onedevice/article (whether or not they cooperate) may alternatively be usedin place of the single device/article that is described. Accordingly,the functionality that is described as being possessed by a device mayalternatively be possessed by more than one device/article (whether ornot they cooperate).

Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein(whether or not they cooperate), a single device/article mayalternatively be used in place of the more than one device or articlethat is described. For example, a plurality of computer-based devicesmay be substituted with a single computer-based device. Accordingly, thevarious functionality that is described as being possessed by more thanone device or article may alternatively be possessed by a singledevice/article.

The functionality and/or the features of a single device that isdescribed may be alternatively embodied by one or more other deviceswhich are described but are not explicitly described as having suchfunctionality/features. Thus, other embodiments need not include thedescribed device itself, but rather can include the one or more otherdevices which would, in those other embodiments, have suchfunctionality/features.

Indication

The term “indication” is used in an extremely broad sense. The term“indication” may, among other things, encompass a sign, symptom, ortoken of something else.

The term “indication” may be used to refer to any indicia and/or otherinformation indicative of or associated with a subject, item, entity,and/or other object and/or idea.

As used herein, the phrases “information indicative of” and “indicia”may be used to refer to any information that represents, describes,and/or is otherwise associated with a related entity, subject, orobject.

Indicia of information may include, for example, a code, a reference, alink, a signal, an identifier, and/or any combination thereof and/or anyother informative representation associated with the information.

In some embodiments, indicia of information (or indicative of theinformation) may be or include the information itself and/or any portionor component of the information. In some embodiments, an indication mayinclude a request, a solicitation, a broadcast, and/or any other form ofinformation gathering and/or dissemination.

Disclosed Examples and Terminology are not Limiting

Neither the Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of thepresent application) nor the Abstract (set forth at the end of thepresent application) is to be taken as limiting in any way as the scopeof the disclosed invention(s). An Abstract has been included in thisapplication merely because an Abstract of not more than 150 words isrequired under 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b).

The title of the present application and headings of sections providedin the present application are for convenience only, and are not to betaken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

Numerous embodiments are described in the present application, and arepresented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments arenot, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presentlydisclosed invention(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, asis readily apparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in theart will recognize that the disclosed invention(s) may be practiced withvarious modifications and alterations, such as structural, logical,software, and electrical modifications. Although particular features ofthe disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one ormore particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understoodthat such features are not limited to usage in the one or moreparticular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they aredescribed, unless expressly specified otherwise.

No embodiment of method steps or product elements described in thepresent application constitutes the invention claimed herein, or isessential to the invention claimed herein, or is coextensive with theinvention claimed herein, except where it is either expressly stated tobe so in this specification or expressly recited in a claim.

All words in every claim have the broadest scope of meaning they wouldhave been given by a person of ordinary skill in the art as of thepriority date. No term used in any claim is specially defined or limitedby this application except where expressly so stated either in thisspecification or in a claim.

The preambles of the claims that follow recite purposes, benefits andpossible uses of the claimed invention only and do not limit the claimedinvention.

The present disclosure is not a literal description of all embodimentsof the invention(s). Also, the present disclosure is not a listing offeatures of the invention(s) which must be present in all embodiments.

Devices that are described as in communication with each other need notbe in continuous communication with each other, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit toeach other as necessary or desirable, and may actually refrain fromexchanging data most of the time. For example, a machine incommunication with another machine via the Internet may not transmitdata to the other machine for long period of time (e.g., weeks at atime). In addition, devices that are in communication with each othermay communicate directly or indirectly through one or moreintermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components or features doesnot imply that all or even any of such components/features are required.On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described toillustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the presentinvention(s). Unless otherwise specified explicitly, nocomponent/feature is essential or required.

Although process steps, algorithms or the like may be described in aparticular sequential order, such processes may be configured to work indifferent orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps thatmay be explicitly described does not necessarily indicate a requirementthat the steps be performed in that order. The steps of processesdescribed herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, somesteps may be performed simultaneously despite being described or impliedas occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is describedafter the other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by itsdepiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process isexclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not implythat the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to theinvention(s), and does not imply that the illustrated process ispreferred.

Although a process may be described as including a plurality of steps,that does not imply that all or any of the steps are preferred,essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of thedescribed invention(s) include other processes that omit some or all ofthe described steps. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no step isessential or required.

Although a process may be described singly or without reference to otherproducts or methods, in an embodiment the process may interact withother products or methods. For example, such interaction may includelinking one business model to another business model. Such interactionmay be provided to enhance the flexibility or desirability of theprocess.

Although a product may be described as including a plurality ofcomponents, aspects, qualities, characteristics and/or features, thatdoes not indicate that any or all of the plurality are preferred,essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of thedescribed invention(s) include other products that omit some or all ofthe described plurality.

An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does notimply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unlessexpressly specified otherwise. Likewise, an enumerated list of items(which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of theitems are comprehensive of any category, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. For example, the enumerated list “a computer, a laptop, aPDA” does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list aremutually exclusive and does not imply that any or all of the three itemsof that list are comprehensive of any category.

An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does notimply that any or all of the items are equivalent to each other orreadily substituted for each other.

All embodiments are illustrative, and do not imply that the invention orany embodiments were made or performed, as the case may be.

Computing

It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that thevarious processes described herein may be implemented by, e.g.,appropriately programmed general purpose computers, special purposecomputers and computing devices. Typically a processor (e.g., one ormore microprocessors, one or more microcontrollers, one or more digitalsignal processors) will receive instructions (e.g., from a memory orlike device), and execute those instructions, thereby performing one ormore processes defined by those instructions.

A “processor” means one or more microprocessors, central processingunits (CPUs), computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signalprocessors, or like devices or any combination thereof.

Thus a description of a process is likewise a description of anapparatus for performing the process. The apparatus that performs theprocess can include, e.g., a processor and those input devices andoutput devices that are appropriate to perform the process.

Further, programs that implement such methods (as well as other types ofdata) may be stored and transmitted using a variety of media (e.g.,computer readable media) in a number of manners. In some embodiments,hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware may be used in place of, or incombination with, some or all of the software instructions that canimplement the processes of various embodiments. Thus, variouscombinations of hardware and software may be used instead of softwareonly.

The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any medium, a plurality ofthe same, or a combination of different media, that participate inproviding data (e.g., instructions, data structures) which may be readby a computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may take manyforms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media,and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, opticalor magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media includedynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes themain memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire andfiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled tothe processor. Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves,light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as those generatedduring radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications.Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppydisk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magneticmedium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, papertape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM,an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrierwave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computercan read.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carryingdata (e.g. sequences of instructions) to a processor. For example, datamay be (i) delivered from RAM to a processor; (ii) carried over awireless transmission medium; (iii) formatted and/or transmittedaccording to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such as Ethernet(or IEEE 802.3), SAP, ATP, Bluetooth™, and TCP/IP, TDMA, CDMA, and 3G;and/or (iv) encrypted to ensure privacy or prevent fraud in any of avariety of ways well known in the art.

Thus a description of a process is likewise a description of acomputer-readable medium storing a program for performing the process.The computer-readable medium can store (in any appropriate format) thoseprogram elements which are appropriate to perform the method.

Just as the description of various steps in a process does not indicatethat all the described steps are required, embodiments of an apparatusinclude a computer/computing device operable to perform some (but notnecessarily all) of the described process.

Likewise, just as the description of various steps in a process does notindicate that all the described steps are required, embodiments of acomputer-readable medium storing a program or data structure include acomputer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed, cancause a processor to perform some (but not necessarily all) of thedescribed process.

Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to thosedescribed may be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structuresbesides databases may be readily employed. Any illustrations ordescriptions of any sample databases presented herein are illustrativearrangements for stored representations of information. Any number ofother arrangements may be employed besides those suggested by, e.g.,tables illustrated in drawings or elsewhere. Similarly, any illustratedentries of the databases represent exemplary information only; one ofordinary skill in the art will understand that the number and content ofthe entries can be different from those described herein. Further,despite any depiction of the databases as tables, other formats(including relational databases, object-based models and/or distributeddatabases) could be used to store and manipulate the data typesdescribed herein. Likewise, object methods or behaviors of a databasecan be used to implement various processes, such as the describedherein. In addition, the databases may, in a known manner, be storedlocally or remotely from a device which accesses data in such adatabase.

Various embodiments can be configured to work in a network environmentincluding a computer that is in communication (e.g., via acommunications network) with one or more devices. The computer maycommunicate with the devices directly or indirectly, via any wired orwireless medium (e.g. the Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet, Token Ring, atelephone line, a cable line, a radio channel, an optical communicationsline, commercial on-line service providers, bulletin board systems, asatellite communications link, a combination of any of the above). Eachof the devices may themselves comprise computers or other computingdevices, such as those based on the Intel® Pentium® or Centrino™processor, that are adapted to communicate with the computer. Any numberand type of devices may be in communication with the computer.

In an embodiment, a server computer or centralized authority may not benecessary or desirable. For example, the present invention may, in anembodiment, be practiced on one or more devices without a centralauthority. In such an embodiment, any functions described herein asperformed by the server computer or data described as stored on theserver computer may instead be performed by or stored on one or moresuch devices.

Where a process is described, in an embodiment the process may operatewithout any user intervention. In another embodiment, the processincludes some human intervention (e.g., a step is performed by or withthe assistance of a human).

35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6

In a claim, a limitation of the claim which includes the phrase “meansfor” or the phrase “step for” means that 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6,applies to that limitation.

In a claim, a limitation of the claim which does not include the phrase“means for” or the phrase “step for” means that 35 U.S.C. § 112,paragraph 6 does not apply to that limitation, regardless of whetherthat limitation recites a function without recitation of structure,material or acts for performing that function. For example, in a claim,the mere use of the phrase “step of” or the phrase “steps of” inreferring to one or more steps of the claim or of another claim does notmean that 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6, applies to that step(s).

With respect to a means or a step for performing a specified function inaccordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6, the correspondingstructure, material or acts described in the specification, andequivalents thereof, may perform additional functions as well as thespecified function.

Computers, processors, computing devices and like products arestructures that can perform a wide variety of functions. Such productscan be operable to perform a specified function by executing one or moreprograms, such as a program stored in a memory device of that product orin a memory device which that product accesses. Unless expresslyspecified otherwise, such a program need not be based on any particularalgorithm, such as any particular algorithm that might be disclosed inthe present application. It is well known to one of ordinary skill inthe art that a specified function may be implemented via differentalgorithms, and any of a number of different algorithms would be a meredesign choice for carrying out the specified function.

Therefore, with respect to a means or a step for performing a specifiedfunction in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6, structurecorresponding to a specified function includes any product programmed toperform the specified function. Such structure includes programmedproducts which perform the function, regardless of whether such productis programmed with (i) a disclosed algorithm for performing thefunction, (ii) an algorithm that is similar to a disclosed algorithm, or(iii) a different algorithm for performing the function.

Disclaimer

Numerous references to a particular embodiment does not indicate adisclaimer or disavowal of additional, different embodiments, andsimilarly references to the description of embodiments which all includea particular feature does not indicate a disclaimer or disavowal ofembodiments which do not include that particular feature. A cleardisclaimer or disavowal in the present application shall be prefaced bythe phrase “does not include” or by the phrase “cannot perform”.

Continuing Applications

The present disclosure provides, to one of ordinary skill in the art, anenabling description of several embodiments and/or inventions. Some ofthese embodiments and/or inventions may not be claimed in the presentapplication, but may nevertheless be claimed in one or more continuingapplications that claim the benefit of priority of the presentapplication. Applicant intends to file additional applications to pursuepatents for subject matter that has been disclosed and enabled but notclaimed in the present application.

Incorporation By Reference

Any patent, patent application or other document referred to herein isincorporated by reference into this patent application as part of thepresent disclosure, but only for purposes of written description inaccordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 1 and enablement inaccordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 1, and should in no way beused to limit, define, or otherwise construe any term of the presentapplication where the present application, without such incorporation byreference, would not have failed to provide an ascertainable meaning,but rather would have allowed an ascertainable meaning for such term tobe provided. Thus, the person of ordinary skill in the art need not havebeen in any way limited by any embodiments provided in the reference.

Any incorporation by reference does not, in and of itself, imply anyendorsement of, ratification of or acquiescence in any statements,opinions, arguments or characterizations contained in any incorporatedpatent, patent application or other document, unless explicitlyspecified otherwise in this patent application.

Prosecution History

In interpreting the present application (which includes the claims), oneof ordinary skill in the art shall refer to the prosecution history ofthe present application, but not to the prosecution history of any otherpatent or patent application, regardless of whether there are otherpatent applications that are considered related to the presentapplication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a gaming system according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 shows an example communications network according to anembodiment of the invention that may be used in the gaming system ofFIG. 1

FIG. 3 shows an example process according to an embodiment of theinvention for engaging in a gaming activity and/or convenience serviceusing the gaming system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a verification system in combination with the gaming systemof FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, whichverification system may be used to verify whether a gaming device is incommunications with a licensed gaming server.

FIG. 5 shows a verification service provided by the verification systemof FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows another verification service provided by the verificationsystem of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a further verification service provided by the verificationsystem of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows another verification service provided by the verificationsystem of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows a further verification service provided by the verificationsystem of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to methods and systems for verifying whether adevice is communicating with a server.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a distributed gaming system 100 forproviding one or more gaming activities, and possibly other convenienceservices, to one or more players, such as players 102 and 104, accordingto an embodiment of the invention. In particular, gaming system 100 mayinclude a gaming server 110 that provides the gaming activities andconvenience services, one or more gaming devices 130 that provideplayers 102/104 access to gaming system 100 and that operate with gamingserver 110 to provide the gaming activities and convenience services tothe players, possibly one or more databases 180, and a communicationsnetwork 150 through which gaming server 110 and gaming devices 130communicate. As such, according to an embodiment of the invention,through the use of gaming devices 130 gaming system 100 enables players102 and 104 to engage in gaming activities and possibly otherconvenience services as provided by gaming server 110.

More specifically, according to an embodiment of the invention, gamingserver 110 may be any computing device operable to provide one or moregaming activities and to exchange information related to gamingactivities (“gaming information”) over communications network 150 withgaming devices 130. Gaming information may include any information thatis necessary and/or desirable in the operation of a gaming activity inwhich a player participates or engages. According to an embodiment ofthe invention, gaming activities provided by gaming server 110 mayinclude gambling activities, such as those provided by casinos. Examplegambling activities may include any casino-type gambling activities suchas slot machines, video poker, table games (e.g., craps, roulette,blackjack, pai gow poker, Caribbean stud poker, baccarat, etc.), thewheel of fortune game, keno, sports betting, horse racing, dog racing,jai alai, and any other gambling activities. The gaming activitiesprovided by gaming server 110 may also include wagering on any type ofevent. Events may include, for example, sporting events, such as horseracing and auto racing, and athletic competitions, such as football,basketball, baseball, golf, etc. Events may also include events that donot normally involve wagering such as political elections, entertainmentindustry awards, and box office performance of movies. The gamingactivities provided by gaming server 110 may further include lotteriesor lottery-type activities, such as state and interstate lotteries.These lotteries may include all forms of number-selection lotteries,“scratch-off” lotteries, and other lottery contests. The gamingactivities provided by gaming server 110 may also includenon-wagering/non-gambling activities, including games and events. Oneskilled in the art will recognize that gaming server 110 is not limitedto the above described gaming activities and other gaming activities arepossible.

According to an embodiment of the invention, gaming server 110 may alsobe operable to provide one or more convenience services and to exchangeinformation related to these convenience services (“convenience servicesinformation”) over communications network 150 with gaming devices 130.Convenience services information may include any information that isnecessary and/or desirable in the operation of a convenience service inwhich a player engages. Example convenience services may includerestaurant services, entertainment services, hotel services, moneymanagement services, news services, financial exchange services, orother appropriate services and combinations thereof that may be offeredto a player of a gaming device. Restaurant services may include, forexample, services that allow a player to order drinks, order food, makereservations, or perform other restaurant related activities.Entertainment services may include, for example, services that allow aplayer to purchase show tickets, arrange appointments or services,virtually shop, arrange transportation, or perform other entertainmentrelated activities. Hotel services may include, for example, servicesthat allow a player to check in, check out, make spa appointments, checkmessages, leave messages, review a hotel bill, or perform otherguest-related activities. Money management services may include, forexample, services that allow a player to transfer funds, pay bills, orperform other money management activities. News services may include,for example, services that allow a player to select and view a newssource and/or a news story. A financial exchange service may include,for example, a service that allows a player to place a buy and/or sellorder on a financial exchange. One skilled in the art will recognizethat gaming server 110 is not limited to the above described convenienceservices.

Referring again to FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention,gaming server 110 may include one or more processors, such as processor112, memory 114, and one or more applications 116, which are operable toprovide gaming activities and convenience services like those describedherein and to exchange gaming and convenience services information withthe gaming devices 130. Applications 116 may be embodied as one or moresoftware modules that reside in memory 114 and execute on processor 112.Alternatively or in addition, applications 116 may be embodied as one ormore firmware and/or hardware modules. Gaming server 110 may alsoinclude one or more communications modules 118 for interfacing with andcommunicating over communications network 150 (and possibly othercommunications networks not shown) and for transmitting and/or receivinggaming and convenience services information with gaming devices 130.Gaming server 110 may also include a computer readable medium 115 (e.g.,disk drive) for storing applications 116. As shown in FIG. 1, gamingserver 110 may also be operable to access one or more databases, such asdatabase 180. Database 180 may store, for example, player record orplayer profile information for each player of gaming system 100, asfurther described herein. While gaming server 110 is shown as a singleserver, one skilled in the art will recognize that gaming server 110 mayinclude a plurality of servers, including redundant servers. Accordingto an embodiment of the invention, gaming server 110 may, at least inpart, be a web server, such as an http (hypertext transfer protocol) webserver.

According to an embodiment of the invention, gaming server 110 and theassociated applications 116 may be provided by a gaming service provider172. The actual controlling of gaming activity and convenience servicesin turn may be provided by a gaming facility 174. (A gaming facility mayinclude, for example, a casino, casino-hotel, or other type of entity inLas Vegas, Nev., Atlantic City, N.J., or some other state, may includean entity within international jurisdiction, such as a cruise ship, mayinclude a Native American gaming facility, and/or may include a“racino”, which is a race track that provides slot machines, videolottery terminals, etc. One skilled in the art will recognize that agaming facility may include other types of entities.) Alternatively,gaming facility 174 may not only control the gaming activity andconvenience services, but may also provide gaming server 110 and theassociated applications 116, in which case a gaming service provider 172is not present. As another alternative, gaming service provider 172 mayprovide gaming server 110 and the associated applications 116 and mayalso control the gaming activity and convenience services, in which casea gaming facility 174 is not present. One skilled in the art willrecognize that other combinations of these arrangements are possible.Assuming a gaming service provider 172 and gaming facility 174 arepresent, as shown in FIG. 1 gaming server 110 may reside within thegeographic boundaries of gaming service provider 172 and the gamingservice provider in turn may be remotely located from gaming facility174. Nonetheless, one skilled in the art will recognize that otherarrangements are possible. For example, gaming server 110 may beremotely located from gaming service provider 172. As another example,gaming service provider 172 and gaming server 110 may be within thegeographic boundaries of gaming facility 174.

Referring now to gaming devices 130, these devices provide players102/104 with access to gaming system 100 and enable players to engage inone or more gaming activities and possibly other convenience services asprovided by gaming server 110. Accordingly, a gaming device 130 may beany device that, in combination with gaming server 110, is operable toprovide one or more gaming activities and possibly convenience servicesto a player using the device, to receive inputs from the player and topresent information to the player in relation to the gaming activitiesand convenience services, and to exchange gaming and convenienceservices information over communications network 150 with gaming server110. According to an embodiment of the invention, a gaming device 130may be a mobile/cellular phone, a PDA (personal digital assistant), apocket PC (personal computer), a personal computing device (e.g., alaptop), a pager, or any special or general purpose computing device(e.g., a kiosk) configured to provide one or more gaming activities andpossibly convenience services, such as a slot machine, a video pokermachine, etc. According to an embodiment of the invention, gaming system100 may include different types of gaming devices 130. One skilled inthe art will recognize that other types of gaming devices are possible.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a gaming device 130 may bea stationary device or a device tethered to a stationary object and maybe located within a gaming area of a gaming facility 174 or may belocated in a remote location, such as in a player's room, by apool-side, in a restaurant, etc. Alternatively, a gaming device may be amobile device, thereby allowing a player to be mobile whileparticipating in one or more gaming activities or convenience services.For example, a mobile gaming device may allow a player to engage in anactivity and/or service while within or remote from a gaming area of agaming facility. When a gaming device is a mobile device, the device maybe provided to a player by a gaming facility 174 and/or a gaming serviceprovider 172. For example, a player may obtain such a device uponcheck-in at a hotel and/or from a central location from within a gamingfacility, which device is then temporarily assigned to the player.Alternatively, a mobile gaming device may be a device owned by theplayer, such as a cellular phone or PDA.

Referring again to FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention,a gaming device 130 may include a communications module 131 forinterfacing with communications network 150 and for transmitting and/orreceiving gaming and convenience services information with gaming server110. A gaming device may also include at least one output device.Example output devices may include at least one display 132, such as aCRT (cathode ray tube) or an LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, fordisplaying textual and/or graphical information and player selectableoptions associated with one or more gaming activities or convenienceservices. Other example output devices may include one or more LEDs(light-emitting diodes), and at least one audio output (e.g., a speaker)for conveying information associated with one or more gaming activitiesor convenience services. A gaming device may also include at least oneinput device 134, such as a mouse, a touch-sensitive pad, a pointer, astylus, a trackball, a hard button, a keypad and/or keyboard with one ormore keys representing alphanumeric characters, a wheel, atouch-sensitive monitor, and/or an audio input (e.g., a microphone),thereby allowing a player to enter commands and/or information relatedto one or more gaming activities or convenience services. A gamingdevice may also include at least one biometric input device 136 forentering biometric information, such as a fingerprint, to gain access togaming system 100.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a gaming device may alsoinclude one or more processors, such as processor 137, memory 138, andone or more applications 140 that operate in conjunction withapplications 116 to provide one or more gaming activities andconvenience services. Applications 140 may be embodied as one or moresoftware modules that reside in memory 138 and execute on processor 137.Alternatively or in addition, applications 140 may be embodied as one ormore firmware and/or hardware modules. When applications 140 areembodied as one or more software modules, these software modules maypre-loaded on the gaming device, stored on a computer readable medium139, for example, and thereafter used repeatedly. Alternatively or inaddition, each time a player selects a gaming activity or convenienceservice, a corresponding application 140 may be loaded from gamingserver 110, for example (e.g., as web applications). One skilled in theart will recognize that other configurations are possible. A gamingdevice may also be operable to access one or more databases, such asdatabase 180, either directly or via gaming server 110, for example. Oneskilled in the art will also recognize that different gaming devices mayprovide different gaming activities and convenience services depending,for example, on the gaming device and/or player. According to anembodiment of the invention, a gaming device 130 may, at least in part,operate as a web client (e.g., include a Web browser).

As indicated, gaming activities and convenience services may be providedto a player through a combination of applications 116 executing ongaming server 110 and applications 140 executing on a gaming device. Oneskilled in the art will recognize that any portion of a gaming activityor convenience service may execute on the gaming server 110 and gamingdevice 130. For example, according to an embodiment of the invention, agaming activity or convenience service may execute on the gaming serverwith the gaming device merely presenting information to and receivinginputs from a player. According to another embodiment of the invention,a gaming activity or convenience service may execute on the gamingdevice, which in turn presents results to the gaming server. One skilledin the art will recognize that other variations are possible.

According to an embodiment of the invention, in addition to providing aplayer with one or more gaming activities and convenience services, agaming device 130 may also be operable to provide a player with one ormore communication services, such as telephony and/or data communicationservices, such as cellular, POTS (plan old telephone service), and/or IP(Internet protocol) telephony services, Internet based services, emailservices, text messaging services, etc., as is known in the art. Assuch, in the case of a gaming device owned by a player for example, thegaming device may provide a telephony and/or data communication service,and also provide one or more gaming activities and convenience servicesas provided by gaming system 100. A player may purchase these varioustelephony/data communication services and gaming activity/convenienceservices either together or separately. One skilled in the art will alsorecognize that even when a gaming device 130 is not owned by a player,the device may still provide telephony and/or data communicationservices.

One skilled in the art will recognize that common hardware and/orsoftware modules of a gaming device 130 may be used to provide telephonyand/or data communication services, and one or more gaming activitiesand/or convenience services. For example, hardware and/or softwaremodules used to provide data communication services may also be used tocommunicate with a gaming server 110. According to another embodiment ofthe invention, a telephony and/or data communication service may or maynot use communications network 150. In other words, according to anembodiment of the invention, a gaming device may include one or morecommunications modules, in addition to communication module 131.

Referring now to communications network 150, according to an embodimentof the invention, this network provides a mechanism for gaming devices130 and gaming server 110 to exchange gaming and convenience servicesinformation. As an example, gaming and convenience services informationmay include the loading of applications 140 to the gaming devices 130,security information, such as logins and passwords, and any graphical,textual, and/or audible representations of information and selectionsexchanged between the gaming server 110 and gaming devices 130. Oneskilled in the art will recognize that other information is possible.Accordingly, communications network 150 may be any network that allows,in whole or in part, for the transmission of graphical, textual, and/oraudible information, and for the transmission of information in anyformat including digital and/or analog format.

In particular, according to an embodiment of the invention,communications network 150 may be a wireline and/or wireless network,including a telephony and/or data communications network. Communicationsnetwork 150 may be a private and/or public network, and depending on thesecurity needs of the gaming and convenience services information beingexchanged between gaming server 110 and gaming devices 130, may include,at least in part, the public Internet. Network 150 may be based on anyknown and/or future transport technologies. Example wirelesstechnologies may include, for example, licensed or license-exempttechnologies and in particular, may include Code Division MultipleAccess (CDMA), Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), GeneralPacket Radio Service (GPRS), WiFi (802.11x), WiMax (802.16x), and/orsatellite-based technologies. Example wireline technologies may includethe Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Digital Subscriber Line(DSL), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), cable modemtechnologies, and/or LAN (local area network) based technologies. Oneskilled in the art will recognize that other transport technologies andcombinations of transport technologies may be used.

According to an embodiment of the invention, communications network 150may include a plurality of different networks, which may or may not beinterconnected and which may or may not be based on different transporttechnologies. Gaming server 110 may interface each network individuallyand/or may interface one or more networks through a common access point.Different gaming devices may interface different networks. Thesemultiple networks may each provide or cover different gamingareas/locations. Alternatively, one or more networks may cover the samegaming area/location and be based on different transport technologies,thereby allowing different types of gaming devices to use differenttechnologies to access gaming server 110. Because communications network150 may include multiple networks, one or more gaming devices may use awireless network to access gaming server 110 and as such, may be mobilegaming devices. Similarly, one or more other gaming devices may use awireline network to access gaming server 110 and as such, may bestationary gaming devices.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an example communications network250 according to an embodiment of the invention. Communications network250 is a cellular network and includes a plurality of base stations 252,each of which has a corresponding coverage area 253. Base stationtechnology is known in the art and base stations 252 may be of any typefound in a typical cellular network. The base stations may have coverageareas that overlap. Gaming devices 130 access network 250 through thereception and transmission of radio signals with base stations 252. Asan example, gaming devices 130 may be cellular phones. Network 250 alsoincludes at least one voice/data switch 254, which may be connected tobase stations 252 through a mobile switching center (MSC) (not shown).Gaming server 110 is connected to voice/data switch 254 through adedicated, secure landline 256, for example. According to an embodimentof the invention, communications network 250 may provide telephonyand/or data communication services to gaming devices 130. As an example,the data communication services may be used to transfer, via voice/dataswitch 254, gaming and convenience services information between thegaming devices 130 and gaming server 110. Similarly, voice/data switch254 may route telephony calls between gaming devices 130 and a publicand/or private voice network (not shown).

Referring again to FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention,gaming system 100 may also include one or more databases, such asdatabase 180, including possibly one or more redundant and/or backupdatabases. According to an embodiment of the invention, database 180 maybe accessible to gaming server 110 and may also be accessible to one ormore gaming devices 130. One or more of the databases may be provided byand/or controlled by gaming service provider 172 and/or gaming facility174, and may be co-located with and/or remotely located from gamingserver 110. One skilled in the art will also recognize that database 180may be a part of gaming server 110.

It should be noted that the term “database” as used herein is notintended to limit how the information maintained therein is storedand/or accessed. For example, database 180 may be a database managementsystem. Alternatively, database 180 may be a computer readable mediumwithin gaming server 110 and information may be maintained therein bythe gaming server as flat files, for example. As another example,database 180 may be one or more dynamic data structures (e.g., arrays)within memory 114 of gaming server 110 and may be maintained therein bythe gaming server. Alternatively, information may be maintained usingany combination of these implementations and other implementations.

According to an embodiment of the invention, database 180 may storeplayer profile information for one or more players 102/104 of gamingsystem 100. One skilled in the art will recognize that database 180 maystore other types of information. The player profile information may beaccessible to gaming server 110 in providing gaming activities and/orconvenience services and may also be accessible to one or more gamingdevices 130. The player profile information may be created, maintained,and modified, and in particular, may be created, maintained, andmodified when a player first enters a gaming facility 174 (e.g.,registers at a hotel), when a player subscribes to one or more gamingactivities and/or convenience services (assuming a player may subscribeto such activities/services), when a player obtains a gaming device(e.g., upon check-in at a hotel and/or from a central location within agaming facility), as a player engages in one or more gaming activities,and/or as a player engages in one more convenience services. One skilledin the art will recognize that player profile information may becreated, maintained, and modified at other times. The player profileinformation may be information the player provides and/or designates,information assigned to the player, information related to themonitoring of a player, and/or information associated with a gamingdevice 130 used by the player, in addition to other types ofinformation. The player profile information may be created, maintained,and modified in database 180 by a player, by an attendant of gamingsystem 100, and/or by gaming server 110.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the player profileinformation stored in database 180 may include information relating torespective players themselves. As an example, the player profileinformation may include player identification information, such as aplayer's name, home and/or business address, hotel room number, one ormore telephone numbers including a cell phone number, a social securitynumber, a driver's license number, one or more account numbers includingbank, ATM, debit-card, and/or credit-card numbers, andcredit/credit-scoring information. One skilled in the art will recognizethat the profile information may include other types of playeridentification information.

The player profile information may also include player securityinformation that a player may need to enter at a gaming device 130, forexample, in order to gain access to gaming system 100/gaming server 110.Player security information may include a player identification valuesuch as a login, a player password, and electronic files of fingerprint,voice, photograph, retina scan, and/or other biometric information. Inthe case of the login and password, one or both of these values may bedesignated/assigned by the player, by an attendant of gaming facilityand/or gaming service provider, or some combination thereof.

Player security information may also include one or more pieces ofpersonal information associated with a player, such as a player's maidenname, a name of a player's pet, a town in which a player was born,and/or a hospital in which a player was born. One skilled in the artwill recognize that the player security information may include othertypes of personal information associated with a player. The personalinformation associated with a player may be stored in database 180 indifferent formats, such as just the personal information itself (e.g.,“Smith”), as a common question and an answer to the question, in whichthe answer is the personal information (e.g., “What is you maiden name?Smith”), and/or as an unfinished statement and a completion to theunfinished statement, in which the completion to the unfinishedstatement is the personal information (e.g., “Your maiden name is:Smith”). One skilled in the art will recognize that the personalinformation may be stored in other formats. The personal information,regardless of the format, may be stored as a textual value and/or as anaudible value.

The player security information may also include one or more randomvalues specified by a player. A random value may include, for example,any alphanumeric text value, a plurality of alphanumeric text values, anaudible signal, an audible tone, an audible text value, and/or aplurality of audible text values, or some combination thereof. Oneskilled in the art will recognize that player security information mayinclude other types of random values.

One skilled in the art will also recognize that the profile informationmay include other types of player security information than thatdisclosed herein. According to different embodiments of the invention asdisclose herein, a player may specify some or all of the player securityinformation during a registration period prior to the start of anygaming activity and/or engaging in any convenience service, and/orduring a gaming activity and/or convenience service.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the player profileinformation may also include information relating to the gaming device130 that a player is using to access gaming system 100. Gaming deviceinformation may including a tracking value assigned to the gamingdevice, such as a serial number, inventory number, or some otheralphanumeric value assigned to the gaming device. As an example, thetacking number assigned to a gaming device may be assigned by gamingserver 110, a manufacturer of the gaming device, a gaming facility, agaming service provider, and/or a gaming authority 176 (A gamingauthority may include, for example, the Nevada Gaming Commission, theNevada State Gaming Control Board, the New Jersey Division of GamingEnforcement (DGE), the New Jersey Casino Control Commission (CCC) or theNational Indian Gaming Commission. One skilled in the art will recognizethat a gaming authority may include some other local, state Federal,and/or non-federal gaming/gambling/casino commission board.), or somecombination thereof. One skilled in the art will recognize that gamingserver 110 may use a tracking value to internally refer to a gamingdevice.

Gaming device information may also include a name (e.g., an address)assigned to a gaming device including, for example, a URL (uniformresource locator), an IP address, a MAC (media access control) address,a host name (such as a fully qualified domain name and/or a subname of afully qualified domain name), a phone number, an electronic serialnumber (ESN), and/or a mobile identification number (MIN). One skilledin the art will recognize that other types of names may be assigned to agaming device. One skilled in the art will also recognize that gamingserver 110 may use a name to internally refer to and/or communicate witha gaming device.

One skilled in the art will recognize that gaming device information maybe created, maintained, and modified in database 180 by a player, by anattendant of gaming system 100, and/or by gaming server 110. Forexample, the gaming server may determine a gaming devices name throughcommunications with a gaming device and store this information indatabase 180. One skilled in the art will also recognize that the playerprofile information may include other types of gaming device informationthan that disclosed herein.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the player profileinformation may also include information related to gaming activities.Information related to gaming activities may include, for example,gaming activity preferences of a player, such as preferred gamingactivities, preferred configurations of gaming activities, preferredscreen configurations of gaming activities, and betting/wageringpreferences in general and/or with respect to particular gamingactivities. One skilled in the art will recognize that other gamingactivity preferences of a player may be maintained.

Information related to gaming activities may also include informationassociated with one or more gaming activities engaged in by a player. Asan example, gaming server 110 may monitor a player's activity to obtainsuch information. Such information may be maintained, for example, forthe entire duration a player engages in various gaming activities and/ormay be maintained over a moving fixed duration of time. The informationassociated with one or more gaming activities engaged in by a player mayinclude a name of a gaming activity currently engaged in by a player, aname of a gaming activity previously engaged in by a player, a name ofany gaming activity engaged in by a player, and a sequence of one ormore names of gaming activities as engaged in by a player. Theinformation associated with one or more gaming activities engaged in bya player may also include a location at which a player is currentlyengaged in a gaming activity, a location at which a player previouslyengaged in a gaming activity, a location at which the player engaged inany gaming activity, and a sequence of one or more locations at which aplayer engaged in gaming activities. Location type information may beobtained, for example, based on the location of a stationary gamingdevice or in the case of a mobile gaming device, by using a locationverification technology, such as a network-based technology likemulti-lateration, triangulation, or geo-fencing, and/or asatellite-based technology like a global positioning satellite (GPS)technology, for example. One skilled in the art will recognize thatother location verification technologies may be used.

The information associated with one or more gaming activities engaged inby a player may also include an obtained skill (or success) level of agaming activity currently engaged in by a player, an obtainedskill/success level of a gaming activity previously engaged in by aplayer, an obtained skill/success level of any gaming activity engagedin by a player, and a sequence of one or more obtained skill/successlevels of gaming activities as engaged in by a player.

The information associated with one or more gaming activities engaged inby a player may also include an amount wagered in a gaming activitycurrently engaged in by a player, an amount wagered in a gaming activitypreviously engaged in by a player, an amount wagered in any gamingactivity engaged in by a player, a sequence of wagered amounts in one ormore gaming activities as engaged in by a player, and an average amountwagered by a player in connection with one or more gaming activities.

The information associated with one or more gaming activities engaged inby a player may also include a monetary outcome (i.e., amount won oramount lost) in a gaming activity currently engaged in by a player, amonetary outcome in a gaming activity previously engaged in by a player,a monetary outcome in any gaming activity engaged in by a player, asequence of a monetary outcomes in one or more gaming activities asengaged in by a player, and a total monetary outcome in one or moregaming activities engaged in by a player.

The information associated with one or more gaming activities engaged inby a player may also include a win-lose outcome in a gaming activitycurrently engaged in by a player, a win-lose outcome in a gamingactivity previously engaged in by a player, a win-lose outcome in anygaming activity engaged in by a player, and a sequence of a win-loseoutcomes in one or more gaming activities as engaged in by a player.

The information associated with one or more gaming activities engaged inby a player may also include a sequence of events (e.g., cards dealt ina hand of black jack) in a gaming activity currently engaged in by aplayer, a sequence of events in a gaming activity previously engaged inby a player, a sequence of events in any gaming activity engaged in by aplayer, and a sequence of events in one or more gaming activities asengaged in by a player. One skilled in the art will recognize that otherinformation associated with one or more gaming activities engaged in bya player may be maintained.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the player profileinformation may also include credit information of a player. The creditinformation may include a credit amount of a player as reflected by acredit account. According to an embodiment of the invention, the creditamount as reflected by the credit account may fluctuate. For example,prior to engaging in a gaming activity, a player, through the use of acashier for example, may initially deposit a credit amount in the creditaccount in exchange for a credit-card type deposit or other type ofdeposit. Thereafter, the credit amount may fluctuate as a player engagesin one or more gaming activities and gaming server 110 causes theplayer's winnings and/or losses to be added to and subtracted from thecredit account. Similarly, a player, through a cashier, may depositadditional funds to and/or withdraw funds from the credit account.According to an embodiment of the invention, as a player engages in oneor more convenience services, gaming server 110 may also cause purchasecosts and/or earnings associated with these services to be subtractedfrom and/or added to the credit account. One skilled in the art willrecognize that the credit amount may fluctuate in other ways.

The credit information may also include a transaction history of thecredit account as the credit amount fluctuates through deposits,withdrawals, winning, losses, purchase costs, and earnings.

The credit information may also include one or more credit limits,including wagering/betting limits assigned to a player in connectionwith gaming activities. For example, a single wagering/betting limit maybe assigned to one or more gaming activities engaged by a player.Alternatively, one or more gaming activities may have an assignedwagering/betting limit. The credit limits may also include one or morespending limits assigned to a player in connection with convenienceservices. As a player engages in one or more gaming activities and/orconvenience services, the gaming server may dynamically fluctuate aplayer's wagering/betting limits and spending limits. One skilled in theart will recognize that the player profile information may include othertypes of credit information of a player.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the player profileinformation may also include information associated with one or moreconvenience services engaged in by a player, which information gamingserver 110, for example, may monitor and maintain. Informationassociated with one or more convenience services engaged in by a playermay include, for example, reservations and/or appointments made by aplayer, items purchased by a player, and purchase costs and/or depositamounts associated with reservations, appointments, and itemsmade/purchased by a player. One skilled in the art will recognize thatthe player profile information may include other types of informationassociated with one or more convenience services engaged in by a player.One skilled in the art will also recognize that other types of playerprofile information in addition to that disclosed herein may be created,maintained, and modified.

One skilled in the art will recognize that database 180 may beimplemented such that one or more pieces of player profile informationas disclosed herein, in addition to other player profile information,may be used to access and, for example, to index database 180 in orderto obtain one or more other pieces of player profile information.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an example process 300 forengaging in a gaming activity and/or convenience service according to anembodiment of the invention. One skilled in the art will recognize thatnumerous other scenarios are possible. Beginning with step 302, a player102 may first activate a gaming device 130 by, for example, turning onthe device. As a result of being activated, gaming device 130 mayautomatically connect to communications network 150 or player 102 maycause the gaming device to connect to the communications network.Thereafter, gaming device 130 may automatically establish communicationswith gaming server 110 or player 102, by selecting an option and/orentering a command, may cause the gaming device to establish thesecommunications. Thereafter, gaming server 110 may load one or moreapplications 140 onto the gaming device. Referring to step 304, gamingserver 110 and/or gaming device 130 may next cause player 102 topossibly enter player identification information and may also causeplayer 102 to enter player security information including, for example,a login and password and possibly biometric information. According toother embodiments of the invention, a gaming device, when initially usedby a player, may already be activated and in communications with gamingserver 110. Here, process 300 may begin at step 304, for example.

Assuming the player enters the correct player security information,gaming server 110 and/or gaming device 130 may next present player 102with the option of proceeding with gaming activities or possiblyconvenience services (step 306). Assuming the player chooses to proceedwith gaming activities, a gaming environment may be presented to theplayer. For example, the gaming environment may include a casino lobbywhere the player is presented with broad categories of gaming activitiesincluding, for example, gambling activities, wagering on an event,lottery activities, etc. Assuming the player selects a particularcategory, the player may then be presented with specific types of gamingactivities from which to choose.

Proceeding to step 308, player 102 may select a particular gamingactivity, such as a particular casino table game. In step 310, thegaming server and/or gaming device may next present the player with oneor more options related to the selected gaming activity. In step 312,the player may then select an option. For example, the player may placea wager or draw a card. In step 314, the gaming device 130 may acceptthe selected option and may transmit the selected option to the gamingserver 110. In step 316, the gaming server may then act on the selectedoption.

For example, the gaming server may determine an outcome, such as won orlost and/or an amount won or lost, based on, for example, an amountwagered and any applicable odds. For certain gambling activities, suchas a table game or slot machine, a random number generator may beincorporated to determine an outcome.

Thereafter in step 318, the gaming server may prepare a response to theplayer in accordance with the determined outcome, and send the responseto the gaming device/player. In step 320, the player may acknowledge theresponse with the gaming server. For example, the player may acknowledgethat a hand of blackjack has been won and may acknowledge the designatedpayout. In step 322, the player may then log out of the gamingserver/gaming device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, gaming server 110 may be atrusted server (e.g., a “licensed server”/“licensed gaming server”) inthat a gaming service provider 172, gaming facility 174, and/or gamingauthority 176 may have mechanisms in place to ensure the server has notbeen tampered with. For example, a gaming service provider 172, gamingfacility 174, and/or gaming authority 176 may have mechanisms in placeto physically secure (e.g., limit access to) the gaming server 110and/or to check the authenticity of applications 116 that provide thegaming activities and convenience services. According to an embodimentof the invention, gaming server 110, for example, may also havemechanisms in place to ensure a gaming device 130 has not been tampered.For example, as is known in the art, gaming server 110 may havemechanisms to check the authenticity of applications 140 on a gamingdevice. Accordingly, as a player uses a gaming device 130 to engage inone or more gaming activities or convenience services, gaming server 110may ensure the gaming device has not been tampered and may discontinuethe activity or service, for example, if an issue is detected.

Notably, from the perspective of a player 102/104 using a gaming device130, it would also be desirable to have a mechanism for the player toensure that the gaming device has not been tampered with, therebycausing the gaming device, unknown to the player, to be incommunications with a bogus/malicious gaming server rather than alicensed gaming server 110 as provided by a gaming service provider 172and/or gaming facility 174. In other words, when a player uses a gamingdevice to engage in one or more gaming activities or convenienceservices with a gaming server, it would be desirable to provide theplayer with a mechanism such that the player may verify that the gamingdevice is in fact communicating with a “licensed gaming server” (i.e.,gaming server 110).

Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown a verification system 400according to an embodiment of the invention. Verification system 400 mayinclude a verification server 410, one or more verification devices 430a/430 b/430 c that provide players 102/104, for example, access toverification system 400, and a communications network 450 through whichverification server 410 and verification devices 430 a/430 b maycommunicate. According to an embodiment of the invention, verificationserver 410 provides one or more “verification services” to one or moreplayers 102/104 of gaming system 100 and in particular, enables a playerto verify, possibly through the use of a verification device 430 a/430b/430 c, that the gaming device 130 that the player is using is incommunications with a licensed gaming server 110, rather than abogus/malicious gaming server.

In particular, according to an embodiment of the invention, verificationserver 410 may be any computing device operable to provide one or moreverification services as disclosed herein. As shown in FIG. 4,verification server 410 may be a computing device separate from gamingserver 110. Here, verification server 410 may include one or moreprocessors, such as processor 412, memory 414, and one or moreapplications, such as application 416, each of which may be operable toprovide a verification service as disclosed herein. Each application 416may be embodied as one or more software modules that reside in memory414 and execute on processor 412. Alternatively or in addition, anapplication 416 may be embodied as one or more firmware and/or hardwaremodules. Verification server 410 may also include one or morecommunications modules 418 for interfacing with communications network450 (and possibly other communications networks) and for transmittingand/or receiving verification information with verification devices 430a/430 b. Verification information may include any information that isnecessary and/or desirable in the operation of a verification service asfurther disclosed herein and in particular, may include any informationexchanged between verification server 410 and a verification device 430and/or any information exchanged between verification server 410 and agaming device 130. Verification server 410 may also include one or moreinteractive voice response (IVR) systems, such as system 419, to allowplayers, for example, to interact with verification server 410 in anautomated fashion, as further disclosed herein. Verification server 410may also include a computer readable medium 415 for storing, forexample, one or more applications 416. While verification server 410 isshown as a single server, one skilled in the art will recognize thatverification server 410 may include a plurality of servers, includingredundant servers. According to an embodiment of the invention,verification server 410 may, at least in part, be a web server, such asan http web server.

According to an embodiment of the invention and as further shown in FIG.4, verification server 410 may also be interconnected to licensed gamingserver 110, as represented by connection 452. According to an embodimentof the invention, connection 452 may be a communications network, suchas data communications network, and may be a network separate from orpart of communications network 150 and/or communications network 450.Accordingly, verification server 410 and gaming server 110 may alsoinclude one or more communications modules (not shown) for communicatingover communications network 452. One skilled in the art will recognizethat mechanisms other than a communications network 452 may be used tointerconnect verification server 410 and gaming server 110.

According to an embodiment of the invention and as further disclosedherein, verification server 410 may exchange, via gaming server 110,verification information with a gaming device 130 in order to verify fora player using the gaming device that the device is in communicationswith gaming server 110. In other words, according to an embodiment ofthe invention, verification server 410 may transfer verificationinformation to and/or receive verification information from a gamingdevice 130, which information may pass through communications network150 and connection 452, and in particular, may pass via licensed gamingserver 110. By having the verification information pass via licensedgaming server 110, verification is made that the gaming device is incommunications with licensed gaming server 110, and not some othermalicious server. According to this embodiment of the invention, gamingserver 110 may include any mechanism known in the art to enable thepassing of verification information between verification server 410 andgaming devices 130.

Although verification server 410 is shown in FIG. 4 as being connectedto a single gaming server 110/gaming system 100, according to otherembodiments of the invention verification server 410 may beinterconnected to a plurality of gaming servers 110, each provided byand/or controlled by a different gaming service provider and/or a gamingfacility, for example. Here, verification server 410 may provideverification services for players using gaming devices 130 on any ofthese gaming systems.

Although verification server 410 is shown in FIG. 4 as being a separatecomputing device from gaming server 110, one skilled in the art willrecognize that alternative implementations of verification server 410are possible, such as gaming server 110 including verification server410. In other words, according to an embodiment of the invention, gamingserver 110 and verification server 410 may be the same system. Forexample, according to an embodiment of the invention, verificationserver 410 may be a physical entity within/physically a part of gamingserver 110. Here, gaming server 110 may include one or more processors,such as processor 412, memory 414, and one or more applications, such asapplication 416, which processors/memory/applications may representverification server 410. According to another embodiment of theinvention, verification server 410 may be a logical entity within gamingserver 110 such that gaming server 110 again includes verificationserver 410. For example, gaming server 110 may include one or moreapplications, such as application 416, that execute as one or moreprocesses on gaming server 110, which processes may representverification server 410.

According to these various alternative embodiments, gaming server 110may also include one or more communications modules 418 for“verification server” 410 to interface with communications network 450and to transmit and/or receive verification information to/fromverification devices 430 a/430 b. In addition, gaming server 110 mayinclude one or more IVR systems, such as system 419, to allow players,for example, to interact with “verification server” 410 in an automatedfashion. Furthermore, gaming server 110 may also include any mechanismknown in the art for “verification server” 410 to transfer verificationinformation to and/or to receive verification information from a gamingdevice 130 and as such, verification information may still be consideredto pass between verification server 410 and a gaming device 130 viagaming server 110. One skilled in the art will recognize that otherimplementations of verification server 410 and/or gaming server 110 arepossible.

Referring again to FIG. 4, verification server 410 may also be operableto access one or more databases, such as database 180. Depending on theimplementation of database 180 as disclosed herein and/or theimplementation of verification server 410 as disclosed herein, theverification server may access database 180 directly (as represented byconnection 454) and/or may access database 180 via gaming server 110.

According to an embodiment of the invention, verification server 410 andthe associated applications 416 may be provided by and/or controlled bya gaming service provider 172, a gaming facility 174, and/or a gamingauthority 176 and may be within the geographic boundaries of any one ormore of these entities. In addition, when verification server 410 andgaming server 110 are separate entities, the servers may be co-locatedand/or remotely located from one another.

According to an embodiment of the invention, verification server 410 maybe a trusted server (a “licensed server”/“licensed verification server”)in that a gaming service provider 172, gaming facility 174, and/orgaming authority 176 may physically secure (e.g., limit access to) theverification server and/or have mechanisms to check the authenticity ofapplications 416, for example. According to an embodiment of theinvention and as further disclosed herein, different mechanisms may alsobe provided such that a player 102/104 using a verification device 430to access verification server 410 may verify that the verificationserver is a “licensed verification server” rather than a bogus server.

Referring now to verification devices 430 a, 430 b, and 430 c, accordingto an embodiment of the invention these devices provide a player 102/104with access to verification system 100 and in particular, enable aplayer to use a verification service as provided by verification server410 in order to verify that a gaming device 130 being used by the playeris in communications with a licensed gaming server 110. According todifferent embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein, verificationsystem 100 may include only verification devices 430 a, 430 b, or 430 c,or alternatively, may include some combination of these devices. Inaddition, for each verification device 430 a, 430 b, and 430 c,verification system 400 may include one or multiple types of eachdevice, as further disclosed herein.

Referring to verification devices 430 a, according to an embodiment ofthe invention, these devices may include any device operable tointerface with communications network 450, operable to transmitverification information to and/or to receive verification informationfrom verification server 410, and operable to present verificationinformation to and/or to receive verification information from a player.According to an embodiment of the invention, a verification device 430 amay be a POTS phone, a mobile/cellular phone, an IP phone, a PDA, apocket PC, a personal computing device, a pager, a terminal, or a kiosk.According to an embodiment of the invention, verification system 400 mayinclude different types of verification devices 430 a. One skilled inthe art will recognize that other types of verification devices 430 aare possible.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a verification device 430a, other than possibly a kiosk or terminal, may be owned by a player102/104. Alternatively, a gaming facility 174, a gaming service provider172, and/or a gaming authority 176 may provide one or more verificationdevices 430 that may be used by players. In this latter case, theverification device may be a stationary device (e.g., a kiosk) or adevice tethered to and/or mounted to a stationary object (e.g., a wall),and may be located within a gaming area/location of a gaming facility174 or any other location. According to an embodiment of the invention,when a gaming facility, a gaming service provider, and/or a gamingauthority provides a verification device 430 a, the device may be placedin a conspicuous location, thereby providing a player using theverification device with a degree of trust that the verification devicehas not been tampered with and is accessing a “licensed verificationserver” 410 when used.

Referring again to FIG. 4, according to an embodiment of the invention,a verification device 430 a may include a communications module 431 forinterfacing with communications network 450 and for transmitting and/orreceiving verification information to/from verification server 410.Verification device 430 a may also include at least one output devicefor conveying verification information to a player, such as at least onedisplay 432, one or more LEDs, and/or at least one audio output.Verification device 430 a may also include at least one input device434, such as a mouse, a touch-sensitive pad, a pointer, a stylus, atrackball, a button, a keypad and/or keyboard with one or more keysrepresenting alphanumeric characters, a wheel, a touch-sensitivemonitor, and/or an audio input, thereby allowing a player to enterverification information. Verification device 430 a may also include oneor more processors, such as processor 436, memory 438, and a computerreadable medium 439.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a verification device 430 amay not include any applications (e.g., software, firmware, and/orhardware modules) specific to verification system 400. According toanother embodiment of the invention, a verification device 430 a mayinclude one or more applications, such as application 440, that operatein conjunction with applications 416 to provide one or more verificationservices. Each application 440 may be embodied as one or more softwaremodules that reside in memory 438 and execute on processor 436 and/ormay be embodied as one or more firmware and/or hardware modules. When anapplications 440 s embodied as one or more software modules, thesesoftware modules may be pre-loaded on a verification device, stored oncomputer readable medium 439 for example, and/or may be loaded fromverification server 410, for example, when a verification service isused (e.g., as a web application). One skilled in the art will recognizethat other configurations are possible. According to an embodiment ofthe invention, a verification device 430 a may, at least in part,operate as a web client (e.g., include a Web browser).

Referring to verification devices 430 b, according to an embodiment ofthe invention, these devices include any device operable to function asboth a verification device 430 a and a gaming device 130, as disclosedherein. Accordingly, a verification device 430 b may be a verificationdevice that is integral with a gaming device 130. An example of such adevice may include a gaming device 130 operable to provide a player withone or more gaming activities and possibly convenience services, andalso one or more communication services, such as telephony and/or datacommunication services, as disclosed herein. According to an embodimentof the invention, a verification device 430 b may be a stationary deviceor a device tethered to a stationary object, or may be a mobile device.In addition, the device may be provided to a player by a gaming facility174 and/or a gaming service provider 172 or may be owned by a player.

Referring to verification devices 430 c, according to an embodiment ofthe invention, these devices include any mechanism operable to directlyinterface with verification server 410 in order to transmit verificationinformation thereto and/or to receive verification information therefrom, and operable to present verification information to and/or toreceive verification information from a player, for example. Inparticular, according to an embodiment of the invention, a verificationdevice 430 c may be one or more output devices interfaced toverification server 410, such as a display, one or more LEDs, and/or anaudio output. Alternatively or in addition, a verification device 430 cmay be one or more input devices interfaced to verification server 410,such as a mouse, a touch-sensitive pad, a pointer, a stylus, atrackball, a button, a keypad and/or keyboard with one or more keysrepresenting alphanumeric characters, a wheel, a touch-sensitivemonitor, and/or an audio input. According to an embodiment of theinvention, verification system 400 may include different combinations ofverification devices 430 c. One skilled in the art will recognize thatother types of verification devices 430 c are possible.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a gaming facility 174, agaming service provider 172, and/or a gaming authority 176 may controlaccess to a verification device 430 a and/or 430 c and/or may operatesuch a device on behalf of a player in order for the player to verifythat the player's respective gaming device 130 is in communications witha licensed gaming server 110. More specifically, according to anembodiment of the invention as disclosed herein, an attendant associatedwith a gaming facility, a gaming service provider, and/or a gamingauthority, for example, may be positioned at a location within a gamingfacility, such as at a booth, and may have access to one or moreverification devices 430 a/430 c. A player may request that thisattendant verify, on behalf of the player, a gaming device 130 beingused by the player. As further disclosed herein, the player may provideverification information to the attendant for the attendant to enterinto the verification device and/or may receive verification informationfrom the attendant that the attendant obtained from the verificationdevice. According to an embodiment of the invention, such an attendantmay be located at a conspicuous location, thereby providing a playerwith a degree of trust that the attendant is valid and is accessing a“licensed verification server” 410 to verify the player's gaming device.

According to another embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein, anattendant associated with a gaming facility, a gaming service provider,and/or a gaming authority, for example, may be positioned at a call ordata center, for example, and have access to one or more verificationdevices 430 a/430 c. A player may contact such an attendant, via phoneor data connection for example, and request that the attendant verify,on behalf of the player, a gaming device 130 being used by the player.According to an embodiment of the invention, a phone number or dataaddress, for example, used by the player to contact the attendant may beposted at a conspicuous location within a gaming facility, for example,thereby providing a player with a degree of trust that the attendant isvalid and is accessing a “licensed verification server” 410 to verifythe player's gaming device.

Referring now to communications network 450, according to an embodimentof the invention, this network provides a mechanism for verificationdevices 430 a/430 b and verification server 410 to exchange verificationinformation. As further disclosed herein, the verification informationmay be transmitted in whole, or in combination, as graphical, textual,and/or as audible information and may be transmitted in any formatincluding digital and/or analog. According to an embodiment of theinvention, communications network 450 may be a wireline and/or wirelessnetwork, including a telephony and/or data communications network, andmay be based on any known and/or future transport technologies.Communications network 450 may be a private and/or public network, andmay include, at least in part, the public Internet.

According to an embodiment of the invention, communications network 450may include a plurality of different networks, which may or may not beinterconnected and which may or may not be based on different transporttechnologies. Verification server 410 may interface each networkindividually and/or may interface one or more networks through a commonaccess point. Different verification devices 430 a/430 b may interfacedifferent networks and may use different technologies to accessverification server 410.

According to different embodiment of the invention, communicationsnetwork 450 and communications network 150 may or may not share commonresources, and may or may not be interconnected. According to anembodiment of the invention, communications network 450 andcommunications network 150 are the same network.

One skilled in the are will recognize that the scope of coverage ofverification network 450 may vary, and in particular, may provideverification devices 450 a/450 b access to verification server 410 fromgaming area/locations within a gaming facility, and/or beyond a gamingfacility.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown steps of a verification service500 according to an embodiment of the invention, which service isprovided through a combination of verification server 410, averification device, and a gaming device. One skilled in the art willrecognize that while verification service 500 is described as a sequenceof ordered steps, the specific order of these steps may vary, one ormore steps may be combined, and not all steps may be required.

According to this embodiment, it is assumed a player is using a gamingdevice 130 that is already in communications with a gaming server,presumably a licensed gaming server 110. If required, it is also assumedthe player has already entered any required player identificationinformation and/or player security information. It should be noted thataccording to this embodiment of the invention, gaming device 130 mayrequire one or more applications (as represented by application 417 inFIG. 4) (pre-loaded and/or dynamically loaded, for example) that operatein conjunction with applications 416 on the verification server toprovide verification service 500.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the player may have juststarted using the gaming device (e.g., just turned the device on and/orentered player identification/security information), may be currentlyengaged in one or more gaming activities and/or convenience services,and/or may have completed one or more gaming activities and/orconvenience services. In addition, the player may have previously usedgaming device 130 and subsequently turned the device off and/or loggedout of the device, before the current use of the device. Similarly, theplayer may have used other gaming devices prior to the current use ofthe present device. According to this embodiment of the invention, theplayer may now want to verify that gaming device 130 is in fact incommunications with a licensed gaming server 110, rather than abogus/malicious gaming server.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the verification device430 a/430 b/430 c used to verify the gaming device need be at leastoperable to receive verification information from a player/attendant andto convey this information to verification server 410. Nonetheless, theverification device is also preferably operable to receive verificationinformation from verification server 410 and to convey this informationto a player/attendant. For description purposes only, verificationservice 500 will be described assuming that a player has a verificationdevice 430 a or 430 b (i.e., the gaming device 130 to be verified isintegral with the verification device), and is using this devicedirectly (i.e., not through an attendant) to verify the gaming devicethe player is using.

Beginning with step 502, verification server 110 may initially establishcommunications with the verification device 430 a/430 b viacommunications network 450. The player may initially cause theverification device to establish communications with verification server410. As an example, if the verification device is a phone or personalcomputing device, the player may enter an address of the verificationserver, such as phone number or data address, such as a URL. Accordingto an embodiment of the invention, the player may obtain this addressfrom conspicuous postings throughout a gaming facility and/or fromaudible announcements, for example. As indicated above, by making theaddress available in such fashions, a player may obtain a degree oftrust that by using the address, the player is accessing a “licensedverification server” 410. According to another embodiment of theinvention, the address may be printed, for example, on gaming device 130or made available by the gaming device through a display 132, forexample. If the verification device is provided by a gaming authority,gaming facility, and/or gaming service provider, for example, theaddress may be printed on the verification device or made available bythe verification device through a display 432, for example. One skilledin the art will recognize that the player may obtain the address inother ways.

According to an embodiment of the invention, when a gaming authority,gaming facility, and/or gaming service provider provides theverification device, the device may have consistent communications withverification server 410, thereby not requiring, for example, that theplayer establish communications with verification server 410. Accordingto another embodiment of the invention, when a verification device isprovided by such an entity, the device may be configured toautomatically establish communications with verification server 410. Forexample, when the verification device is a phone, the phone may beconfigured to establish communications with verification server 410 whentaken off-hook. Similarly, when the verification device is a kiosk, forexample, the kiosk may include, for example, a hard button, or a softbutton and/or display option made available through a display 432 thatthe player may depress/select to cause the device to establishcommunications with verification server 410.

Referring to step 504, verification server 410 may next receive arequest for verification service from the player via the verificationdevice. The player may make the request as an audible command, anaudible tone (e.g., selecting an alphanumeric button on a phone), bydepressing a hard button, or by selecting a soft button and/or displayoption made available through a display 432, for example. The requestmay be made in response to receiving a prompt (e.g., audible, textual,and/or graphical prompt) from the verification server and/orverification device. According to another embodiment of the invention,verification server 410 may consider the mere establishing ofcommunications with the verification device as a verification servicerequest, in which case step 504 is not needed. According to anembodiment of the invention, the request for verification service fromthe player may include a request for a particular type of verificationservice, as disclosed herein.

Referring to step 506, verification server 410 may next determine thegaming device 130 that the player wants to verify and in particular, maydetermine the gaming device such that the verification server maysubsequently communicate in any fashion with the gaming device viagaming server 110, as further disclosed herein. According to anembodiment of the invention, verification server 410 may determine thegaming device by determining identification information associated withthe player and/or gaming device (step 507). According to an embodimentof the invention, the verification server may determine suchidentification information by receiving the identification informationfrom the verification device/player. One skilled in the art willrecognize that the verification server 410 may determine identificationinformation in other fashions.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the identificationinformation may include, for example, player identification information(e.g., the player's name), player security information (e.g., theplayer's login to gaming server 110), and/or information relating to thegaming device 130 (e.g., a tracking value or name of the gaming device)as disclosed herein. One skilled in the art will recognize that theidentification information may include other types of information.According to an embodiment of the invention, the identificationinformation itself may allow the verification server to determine thegaming device and to subsequently communicate in any fashion with thegaming device via gaming server 110. According to another embodiment ofthe invention, the verification server may use the identificationinformation as an index, for example, to access database 180, forexample, and the player's profile information and to thereby determinethe gaming device and in particular, to determine any informationnecessary to subsequently communicate with the gaming device via gamingserver 110. (For example, the identification information may include theplayer's name, which information may be used to access database 180 andthereby determine a name/address of the gaming device assigned to theplayer. As another example, the identification information may include atracking value of the gaming device, which information may be used toaccess database 180 and thereby determine an address of the gamingdevice.)

When the verification server receives the identification informationfrom the verification device, the player may enter this identificationinformation at the verification device, possibly coincident with therequest for verification or possibly in response to receiving a promptfrom the verification server and/or verification device. With respect toinformation relating to the gaming device 130, the player may obtain theinformation from the gaming device, such as from information printed onthe gaming device and/or made available by the gaming device through adisplay 132, for example. According to another embodiment of theinvention, the verification device may have a mechanism for obtainingthe identification information from the gaming device and for thereaftersending the information to the verification server. For example,according to an embodiment of the invention, the verification device maybe a kiosk that includes a reader (e.g., an optical scanner, magneticcard reader, RFID transceiver) for reading information printed and/orencoded on/within the gaming device (e.g., a tracking value). As anotherexample, the verification device and gaming device may includecommunication interfaces that allow the verification device to obtainthe identification information from the gaming device.

Referring next to step 508, verification server 410 may optionallyconfirm for the player that the player/verification device is incommunications with a licensed verification server 410. According to anembodiment of the invention, the verification server may use the abovedescribed identification information as an index, for example, todatabase 180 to access the player's profile information and therebyobtain player security information related to the player, for example,such as personal information associated with the player (e.g., theplayer's maiden name, a name of the player's pet, etc.) and/or a randomvalue specified by the player, as disclosed herein. Alternatively, theverification server and/or verification device may prompt the player foradditional identification information and use such information to accessdatabase 180 to obtain player security information related to theplayer. Thereafter, the verification server may send the player securityinformation to the verification device, causing the verification deviceto provide the information to the player as audible and/or displayedinformation. In this fashion the player is able to verify that theverification device is in communications with a licensed verificationserver 410.

Referring next to step 510, the verification server may next cause theverification device to prompt the player to enter at the verificationdevice an indicator of the player's choice. Upon receiving thisindicator from the verification device (step 512), the verificationserver may then send the indicator (step 514), via gaming server 110, tothe gaming device, causing the gaming device to make the indicator knownto the player. According to this embodiment of the invention, theindicator as specified by the player at the verification device and asreceived by the verification server may be any alphanumeric text value,a plurality of alphanumeric text values, an audible signal, an audibletone, an audible text value, a plurality of audible text values, or somecombination thereof. Alternatively or in addition, the indicator mayinclude player security information related to the player, such aspersonal information associated with the player as disclosed herein. Oneskilled in the art will recognize that the indicator may take otherforms. Regardless of the type of indicator, the player may enter theindicator at the verification device by speaking the indicator into anaudio input (such as a phone receiver), by entering the indicator via akeypad or keyboard, or by using any other of numerous input devices asdisclosed herein. The verification server may in turn send the indicatorto the gaming device in the same form as received from the verificationdevice. According to another embodiment of the invention, theverification server may alter the form of the indicator prior to sendingthe indicator to the gaming device, thereby causing the gaming device tomake the indicator known to the player in a different form than entered.For example, the verification server may receive the indicator from theverification device/player as an audible text value, convert the audibletext value to an equivalent alphanumeric text value, and then send theequivalent alphanumeric text value to the gaming device, whichalphanumeric text value may then be displayed to the player.

According to another embodiment of the invention, rather than theindicator traveling from the verification device to the gaming device,the verification server may cause the verification device to prompt theplayer to enter the indicator at the gaming device. Upon receiving thisindicator via gaming server 110 from the gaming device, the verificationserver may then send the indicator to the verification device, causingthe verification device to make the indicator known to the player.

As such, according to this embodiment of the invention, by passing anindicator between the verification device 430 a/430 b and gaming device130 via the licensed verification server 410 and licensed gaming server110 and in which the indicator is both originated by and received by theplayer (i.e., known to the player), the player is able to verify, whenthe sent and received indicators match, that the gaming device is incommunications with the licensed gaming server 110, rather than abogus/malicious gaming server. Notably, if the player does not receivethe indicator at the gaming device/verification device or receives adifferent indicator than sent/expected, the player may conclude that thegaming device may not be in communications with a licensed gaming server110 and should seek assistance.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the verificationdevice may have a mechanism for obtaining information from the gamingdevice, as similarly disclosed above in relation to step 507 ofverification service 500 with respect to the identification information.Here, the verification device may retain the indicator sent toverification server and may also obtain the indicator received at thegaming device and perform a match of the two indicators on behalf of theplayer.

According to another embodiment of the invention, rather than taking theindicator received from the verification device and sending thisindicator to the gaming device, the verification server may access theplayer's profile information (e.g., the verification server may use theidentification information obtained in step 507 as an index, forexample, to database 180 in order to access the player's profileinformation) and may use the indicator (which indicator may be generallyreferred to in the context of this embodiment as a first indicator) as aselection mechanism to determine some other information, possibly knownto and/or verifiable by the player (which information may be generallyreferred to in the context of this embodiment as a second indicator).The verification server may then send this information (i.e., secondindicator) to the gaming device via the gaming server, causing thegaming device to make the information known to the player. For example,the first indicator from the verification device may be “What is mymother's maiden name?” and the second indicator determined from theplayer profile information and sent to the gaming device may be “Smith”.As another example, the first indicator from the verification device maybe “What is the name of the gaming activity currently engaged in by theplayer” and the second indicator determined from the player profileinformation and sent to the gaming device may be the name of the gamingactivity. One skilled in the art will recognize that other playerprofile information may be determined from the first indicator (e.g.,other player security information; other information associated with oneor more gaming activities engaged in by a player; etc.). As such,according to this embodiment of the invention, the first indicator maybe viewed as a selection made by the verification device/player as to atype of information the player would like to access from the player'sprofile information in database 180. According to this embodiment of theinvention, the verification server and/or verification device may promptthe player and/or present the player with one or more options as to thetype of information the player would like to access from the player'sprofile information, which in turn may cause the player to respond witha selection (i.e., the first indicator). The verification server maythereafter receive the player's selection and determine correspondinginformation from the player's profile information (i.e., the secondindicator) based on this selection. Similar to above, by receiving atthe gaming device information known to the player (e.g., mother's maidenname) or that can be confirmed by the player (e.g., name of the gamingactivity), the player is able to verify that the gaming device is incommunications with the gaming server. One skilled in the art will againrecognize that the first indicator may alternatively be sent from thegaming device and the second indicator sent to the verification device.

According to another embodiment of the invention, rather than using thefirst indicator as a selection mechanism as to a type of information toobtain from the player's profile information, the verification servermay treat the first indicator as a command, for example, from theverification device/player to automatically select information (i.e.,second indicator) from the player's profile information and to then sendthis information to the gaming device via the gaming server. Accordingto a similar embodiment of the invention, the verification server maynot require the first indicator/command but rather, may automaticallyselect information (i.e., second indicator) from the player's profileinformation, possibly in response to receiving the request forverification service from the verification device/player.

As disclosed herein, verification service 500 (and the additionalalternative embodiments) was described with respect to a verificationdevice 430 a or 430 b. One skilled in the art will recognize thatverification service 500 may also be provided using a verificationdevice 430 c. In particular, a player may use a verification device 430c to verify a gaming device 130 as similarly described above forverification device 430 a or 430 b.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a player may interactwith an attendant associated with a gaming facility 174, a gamingservice provider 172, and/or a gaming authority 176, which attendant mayuse a verification device 430 a and/or 430 c to verify a gaming device130 on behalf of a player. As indicated, this attendant may be locatedat a booth, for example, or accessible via a call or data center, forexample. According to this embodiment of the invention, rather than theplayer using a verification device to communicate with verificationserver 410 to verify a gaming device the player is using, the playerwill communicate with the verification server via an attendant, who willin turn communicate with the verification server.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a verification servicemay resemble verification service 500 from steps 502 through 508, forexample. Thereafter, rather than prompting the player to enter anindicator at either the verification device or gaming device and passingthe indicator to the other, according to this embodiment of theinvention the verification server may determine a random indicatorunknown to the player. Thereafter, the verification server may send theindicator, via gaming server 110, to the gaming device, causing thegaming device to make the indicator known to the player, and may alsosend the indicator to the verification device, causing the verificationdevice to also make the indicator known to the player. Assuming theplayer receives the indicator at the gaming device and the twoindicators match, the player is able to verify that the gaming device isin communications with the licensed gaming server 110, rather than abogus/malicious gaming server. Alternatively, if the player does notreceive the indicator at the gaming device or receives a differentindicator than received at the verification device, the player mayconclude that the gaming device may not be in communications with alicensed gaming server 110 and should seek assistance. According toanother embodiment of the invention, the verification device may have amechanism for obtaining information from the gaming device, as similarlydisclosed above in relation to step 507 of verification service 500 withrespect to the identification information. Here, the verification devicemay obtain the indicator received at the gaming device and perform thematch for the player.

According to these embodiments of the invention, the indicator asspecified by the verification server may be any alphanumeric text value,a plurality of alphanumeric text values, an audible signal, an audibletone, an audible text value, a plurality of audible text values, or somecombination thereof. One skilled in the art will recognize that theindicator may take other forms. Regardless of the type of indicator, theverification server may send the indicator to the verification deviceand gaming device in the same form (e.g., both as an audible text value)or in different forms.

One skilled in the art will recognize that according to this embodimentof the invention, the player may use a verification device 430 a/430b/430 c to verify the gaming device, or the player may verify the gamingdevice through an attendant, which may be using any verification device430 a/430 c, as similarly described above.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a verification servicemay again resemble verification service 500 from steps 502 through 508,for example. Thereafter, the verification server may determine a randomindicator unknown to the player and may send the indicator, via gamingserver 110, to the gaming device, causing the gaming device to make theindicator known to the player. The verification server may then promptthe player (via the verification device or gaming device), tospecify/indicate via the verification device the indicator that wasreceived at the gaming device (according to another embodiment of theinvention, the verification device may have a mechanism for obtaininginformation from the gaming device, as similarly disclosed above, andmay obtain the indicator received at the gaming device and automaticallysend the indicator to the verification server). The verification servermay then match the indicator sent to the player via the gaming device tothe value received from the player via the verification device andnotify the player, via the verification device or gaming device, whetherthe two indicators match. Assuming the player receives the indicator atthe gaming device and the two indicators match, the player is able toverify that the gaming device is in communications with the licensedgaming server 110. One skilled in the art will recognize that ratherthan the verification server sending the indicator to the gaming device,the verification server may send the indicator to the verificationdevice and then prompt the player to specify/indicate the indicator viathe gaming device, which may then send the indicator to the verificationserver via the gaming server.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a player may interactwith an attendant associated with a gaming facility 174, a gamingservice provider 172, and/or a gaming authority 176, which attendant mayuse a verification device 430 a and/or 430 c to verify a gaming device130 on behalf of a player. According to this embodiment of theinvention, a verification service may resemble verification service 500from steps 502 through 508, for example. Thereafter, the attendant maydetermine a random indicator unknown to the player, specify theindicator to the player, and also enter the indicator at theverification device, causing the verification server to send theindicator, via gaming server 110, to the gaming device, and causing thegaming device to make the indicator known to the player. Assuming theplayer receives the indicator at the gaming device and the twoindicators match, the player is able to verify that the gaming device isin communications with the licensed gaming server 110, rather than abogus/malicious gaming server. Alternatively, if the player does notreceive the indicator at the gaming device or receives a differentindicator than that specified by the attendant, the player may concludethat the gaming device may not be in communications with a licensedgaming server 110 and should seek assistance.

According to a similar embodiment of the invention, the attendant mayagain determine a random indicator unknown to the player, and enter theindicator at the verification device, causing the verification server tosend the indicator, via gaming server 110, to the gaming device, andcausing the gaming device to make the indicator known to the player.Thereafter, the attendant may ask the player the indicator that wasreceived at the gaming device and specify to the player whether this ismatch. Assuming the player receives the indicator at the gaming deviceand the two indicators match, the player is able to verify that thegaming device is in communications with the licensed gaming server 110.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown steps of a verification service600 according to another embodiment of the invention, which service isprovided through a combination of verification server 410, averification device, and a gaming device. One skilled in the art willrecognize that while verification service 600 is described as a sequenceof ordered steps, the specific order of these steps may vary, one ormore steps may be combined, and not all steps may be required.

As similarly described for verification service 500, according to thisembodiment, it is assumed a player is using a gaming device 130 that isalready in communications with a gaming server, presumably a licensedgaming server 110, and that if required, the player has already enteredany required player identification information and/or player securityinformation. Similar to above, the player may be at any one of variousstates with respect to the player's use of the gaming device. It shouldbe noted that according to this embodiment of the invention, gamingdevice 130 may require one or more applications (as represented byapplication 417 in FIG. 4) that operate in conjunction with applications416 on the verification server to provide verification service 600.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the player may use averification device 430 a/430 b/430 c to verify the gaming device.Alternatively, the player may verify the gaming device through anattendant, which may be using any verification device 430 a/430 c, assimilarly described above. According to this embodiment of theinvention, the verification device 430 a/430 b/430 c need be at leastoperable to receive verification information from a player and/orattendant and to convey this information to verification server 410, butis preferably also operable to receive verification information fromverification server 410 and to convey this information to a playerand/or attendant. For description purposes only, verification service600 will be described assuming that a player has a verification device430 a or 430 b and is using this device directly (i.e., not through anattendant) to verify the gaming device the player is using.

Beginning with steps 602 and 604, verification server 110 may initiallyestablish communications with the verification device and may nextreceive a request for verification service from the player via theverification device, as similarly described for steps 502 and 504 ofverification service 500. Referring next to step 606, verificationserver 410 may next determine identification information associated withthe player and/or gaming device. According to this embodiment of theinvention, the verification server may use the identificationinformation to store an indicator, as further disclosed herein.According to an embodiment of the invention, the verification server maydetermine the identification information by receiving the identificationinformation from the verification device/player. One skilled in the artwill recognize, however, that verification server 410 may determine theidentification information in other fashions. Similar to verificationservice 500, the identification information may include, for example,player identification information, player security information, and/orinformation relating to the gaming device 130 the player wants toverify. One skilled in the art will recognize that the identificationinformation may include other types of information. When theverification server receives the identification information from theverification device, the player may enter the identification informationat the verification device, and/or the verification device may obtainthe identification information from the gaming device and thereaftersend the information to the verification server, as similarly describedin relation to step 506 of verification service 500.

Referring next step 608, verification server 410 may optionally confirmfor the player that the player/verification device is in communicationswith a licensed verification server 410, as similarly described inrelation to step 508 of verification service 500.

Referring next to step 610, the verification server may next cause theverification device to prompt the player to enter at the verificationdevice an indicator of the player's choice. At step 612, theverification server may receive the indicator from the verificationdevice/player and may then store the indicator (step 614) in any fashionsuch that the indicator is associated, either directly or indirectly,with the identification information determined in step 606 and such thatthe indicator may be subsequently retrieved, as further disclosedherein. According to an embodiment of the invention, the verificationserver may store the indicator in database 180, for example, associatingthe indicator with the identification information and in particular, mayuse the identification information as an index, for example, to database180 to store the indicator therein. For example, the verification servermay store the indicator with the player's profile information.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the verificationserver may store the indicator in a database specific to theverification server and associate the indicator with the identificationinformation or some other identification information that may, forexample, be obtained from database 180 and the player's profileinformation. Again, the term “database” as used herein with respect tothe verification server is not intended to limit how the indicator isstored and/or accessed by the verification server. For example, thedatabase may be a database management system, may be a computer readablemedium within verification server 410 and the indicator stored thereinas a flat file, for example, may be one or more dynamic data structurewithin the memory of verification server 410 and the indicator storedtherein, and/or some combination of these implementations and otherimplementations.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the indicator asspecified by the player at the verification device and as received bythe verification server may be any alphanumeric text value, a pluralityof alphanumeric text values, an audible signal, an audible tone, anaudible text value, a plurality of audible text values, or somecombination thereof. Alternatively or in addition, the indicator mayinclude player security information related to the player, such aspersonal information associated with the player as disclosed herein. Oneskilled in the art will recognize that the indicator may take otherforms. Regardless of the type of indicator, the player may enter theindicator at the verification device by speaking the indicator into anaudio input (such as a phone receiver), by entering the indicator via akeypad or keyboard, or by using any other of numerous input devices asdisclosed herein. According to an embodiment of the invention, theverification server may store the indicator in the same form as receivedfrom the verification device/player or alternatively, may alter the formof the indicator prior to storing the indicator. For example, theverification server may receive the indicator from the verificationdevice/player as an audible text value, convert the audible text valueto an equivalent alphanumeric text value, and then store the equivalentalphanumeric text value.

Referring next to step 616, the verification server may next cause theverification device to prompt the player to enter, via the gamingdevice, a request for verification service and in particular, may promptthe player to enter a request, via the gaming device, to retrieve theindicator previously received from the player via the verificationdevice. The player may make the request at the gaming device as anaudible command, an audible tone (e.g., selecting an alphanumeric buttonon a phone), by depressing a hard button, or by selecting a soft buttonand/or display option made available through a display 132, for example.One skilled in the art will recognize that the player may make therequest in other ways. The gaming device may send the request to theverification server either directly, or via gaming server 110.

Referring next to step 618, the verification server may receive therequest from the gaming device and in response to this request, maydetermine the indicator previously received from the player via theverification device (step 622). According to an embodiment of theinvention, verification server 410 may determine the indicator bydetermining identification information from the gaming device (step 620)and by using the identification information to access the database inwhich the verification server previously stored the indicator. Forexample, the verification server may use the identification informationas an index, for example, to access the database.

Similar to above, the identification information may include, forexample, player identification information, player security information,and/or information relating to the gaming device 130. One skilled in theart will recognize, however, that the identification information mayinclude other types of information. According to an embodiment of theinvention, the verification server may determine the identificationinformation by receiving the identification information from the gamingdevice/player. For example, the player may enter the identificationinformation at the gaming device, possibly in conjunction with enteringthe request for verification service and/or in response to receiving aprompt from the verification server and/or gaming device (as similarlydisclosed in relation to step 506 of verification service 500, theplayer may obtain the identification information from the gaming deviceitself). Alternatively, the gaming device may automatically include theidentification information with the request for verification service(e.g., the gaming device may send the player's login or a name/addressof the gaming device). Alternatively, the verification server maydetermine the identification information based on the communications ofreceiving the request from the gaming device (e.g., the verificationserver may be able to determine a name/address associated with thegaming device). One skilled in the art will recognize that theverification server may determine the identification information inother fashions. One skilled in the art will also recognize that theidentification information received from the gaming device may be thesame as and/or different from the identification information receivedfrom the verification device in step 606.

As indicated, according to an embodiment of the invention, theverification server may use the determined identification informationfrom the gaming device to now determine the indicator previouslyreceived from the player via the verification device (step 622) and inparticular, may use the identification information to access thedatabase in which the verification server previously stored theindicator. One skilled in the art will recognize that the identificationinformation used to store the indicator in the database may be differentfrom the identification information now used to access the database,depending on the form of the database. Assuming the verification serveris not able to use the form of the identification information receivedfrom the gaming device to access the database, the verification servermay convert the identification information into another useable formthrough, for example, database 180.

Referring now to step 624, once determining the indicator, theverification server may next send the indicator, via licensed gamingserver 110, to the gaming device, causing the gaming device to make theindicator known to the player. The verification server may send theindicator to the gaming device in the same form as received from theverification device or alternatively, may alter the form of theindicator sent to the gaming device, thereby causing the gaming deviceto make the indicator known to the player in a different form thanentered.

As such, according to this embodiment of the invention, a licensedverification server 410 stores an indicator received from a verificationdevice/player and then upon receiving a request from the gamingdevice/player, sends the indicator, via licensed gaming server 110, tothe gaming device/player, thereby allowing the player to verify that thegaming device is in communications with licensed gaming server 110,rather than a bogus/malicious gaming server. Notably, if the player doesnot receive the indicator at the gaming device or receives a differentindicator than initially entered at the verification device, the playermay conclude that the gaming device may not be in communications with alicensed gaming server 110 and should seek assistance.

One skilled in the art will recognize that alternative embodiments ofverification service 600, similar to the alternative embodiments ofverification service 500 in which a player interacts with an attendantand the attendant specifies the indicator, are also possible.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown steps of a verification service700 according to an embodiment of the invention, which service isprovided through a combination of verification server 410, averification device, and a gaming device. One skilled in the art willrecognize that while verification service 700 is described as a sequenceof ordered steps, the specific order of these steps may vary, one ormore steps may be combined, and not all steps may be required.

As similarly described for verification service 500, according to thisembodiment, it is assumed a player is using a gaming device 130 that isalready in communications with a gaming server, presumably a licensedgaming server 110, and that if required, the player has already enteredany required player identification information and/or player securityinformation. Similar to above, the player may be at any one of variousstates with respect to the player's use of the gaming device. It shouldbe noted that according to this embodiment of the invention, gamingdevice 130 may require one or more applications that operate inconjunction with applications 416 on the verification server to provideverification service 700.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the player may use averification device 430 a/430 b/430 c to verify the gaming device.Alternatively, the player may verify the gaming device through anattendant, which may be using any verification device 430 a/430 c, assimilarly described above. According to this embodiment of theinvention, the verification device 430 a/430 b/430 c need be at leastoperable to receive verification information from verification server410 and to convey this information to a player and/or attendant, but ispreferably also operable to receive verification information from aplayer and/or attendant and to convey this information to a verificationserver 410. For description purposes only, verification service 700 willbe described assuming that a player has a verification device 430 a or430 b and is using this device directly (i.e., not through an attendant)to verify the gaming device the player is using.

Beginning with step 702, verification server 410 may initially receive arequest for verification service from the player via the gaming device.The player may make the request at the gaming device as an audiblecommand, an audible tone (e.g., selecting an alphanumeric button on aphone), by depressing a hard button, or by selecting a soft buttonand/or display option made available through a display 132, for example.One skilled in the art will recognize that the player may make therequest in other ways. The gaming device may send the request to theverification server either directly, or via gaming server 110.

Referring next to step 704, verification server 410 may next determinefrom the gaming device/player identification information associated withthe player and/or gaming device. According to this embodiment of theinvention, the verification server may use the identificationinformation to store an indicator received from the gaming device, asfurther disclosed herein. Similar to above, the identificationinformation may include, for example, player identification information,player security information, and/or information relating to the gamingdevice 130, although other types of identification information may beused. According to an embodiment of the invention, the verificationserver may determine the identification information by receiving theidentification information from the gaming device/player, as similarlydisclosed in relation to step 620 of verification service 600. Forexample, the player may enter the identification information at thegaming device, possibly in conjunction with entering the request forverification service and/or in response to receiving a prompt from theverification server and/or gaming device. Alternatively, the gamingdevice may automatically include the identification information with therequest for verification service. Alternatively, the verification servermay determine the identification information based on the communicationsof receiving the request for verification service from the gamingdevice. One skilled in the art will recognize that the verificationserver may determine the identification information in other fashions.

Referring next to step 706, the verification server may next cause thegaming device to prompt the player to enter at the gaming device anindicator of the player's choice. At step 708, the verification servermay next receive the indicator from the gaming device/player andpreferably, may receive the indicator via the gaming server 110. Uponreceiving this indicator from the gaming device/player, the verificationserver may store the indicator (step 710) in any fashion such that theindicator is associated, either directly or indirectly, with theidentification information obtained in step 704 and such that theindicator may be subsequently retrieved, as further disclosed herein.According to an embodiment of the invention and as similarly describedin relation to step 614 of verification process 600, the verificationserver may store the indicator in database 180, for example, associatingthe indicator with the identification information and in particular,using the identification information as an index, for example, todatabase 180 to store the indicator therein. Alternatively, theverification server may store the indicator in a database specific tothe verification server and associate the indicator with theidentification information or some other identification information thatmay, for example, be obtained from database 180 and the player's profileinformation.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the indicator asspecified by the player at the gaming device and as received by theverification server may be any alphanumeric text value, a plurality ofalphanumeric text values, an audible signal, an audible tone, an audibletext value, a plurality of audible text values, or some combinationthereof. Alternatively or in addition, the indicator may include playersecurity information related to the player, such as personal informationassociated with the player as disclosed herein. One skilled in the artwill recognize that the indicator may take other forms. Regardless ofthe type of indicator, the player may enter the indicator at the gamingdevice by speaking the indicator into an audio input, by entering theindicator via a keypad or keyboard, or by using any other of numerousinput devices as disclosed herein. According to an embodiment of theinvention, the verification server may store the indicator in the sameform as received from the gaming device/player or alternatively, mayalter the form of the indicator prior to storing the indicator, assimilarly described in relation to step 614 of verification process 600.

Referring next to step 712, verification server 410 may next cause thegaming device to prompt the player to use a verification device 430a/430 b to establish communications with verification server 410 andfrom this device make a request for verification service and inparticular, make a request to retrieve the indicator previously receivedfrom the player via the gaming device. The player may perform theseactions as similarly described in relation to steps 502 and 504 ofverification service 500. Accordingly, at steps 713 and 714,verification server 110 may establish communications with the player'sverification device and may receive a request from the verificationdevice.

Referring next to steps 716 and 718, in response to receiving therequest from the verification device, the verification server may nextdetermine the indicator previously received from the player via thegaming device/gaming server 110 (step 718). According to an embodimentof the invention, verification server 410 may determine the indicator bydetermining identification information from the verificationdevice/player (step 716) and by using this identification information toaccess the database in which the verification server previously storedthe indicator (step 718).

According to an embodiment of the invention, the verification server maydetermine the identification information by receiving the identificationinformation from the verification device/player. One skilled in the artwill recognize, however, that verification server 410 may determine theidentification information in other fashions. As similarly describedabove, the identification information may include, for example, playeridentification information, player security information, and/orinformation relating to the gaming device 130, although other types ofinformation may be used. When the verification server receives theidentification information from the verification device, the player mayenter the identification information at the verification device, and/orthe verification device may obtain the identification information fromthe gaming device and thereafter send the information to theverification server, as similarly described in relation to step 506 ofverification service 500. One skilled in the art will recognize that theidentification information received from the verification device may bethe same as and/or different from the identification informationreceived from the gaming device in step 704.

As an aside, one skilled in the art will also recognize that at leaststep 712, for example, may occur prior to step 702. One skilled in theart will also recognize that as similarly described in relation to step508 of verification service 500, verification server 410 may alsoconfirm for the player that the player/verification device is incommunications with a licensed verification server 410 by, for example,using the identification information from the verification device toobtain player security information related to the player and thereaftersending the information to the player.

Referring again to step 718, as indicated, the verification server mayuse the determined identification information from the verificationdevice to now determine the indicator previously received from theplayer via the gaming device and in particular, may use theidentification information to access the database in which theverification server previously stored the indicator. Referring now tostep 720, once determining the indicator, the verification server maynext send the indicator to the verification device, causing theverification device to make the indicator known to the player. Similarto step 624 of verification service 600, the verification server maysend the indicator to the verification device in the same form asreceived from the gaming device or alternatively, may alter the form ofthe indicator sent to the verification device, thereby causing theverification device to make the indicator known to the player in adifferent form than entered.

As such, according to this embodiment of the invention, a licensedverification server 410 stores an indicator received from a gamingdevice/player via licensed gaming server 110, and then upon receiving arequest from a verification device, sends the indicator to theverification device/player, thereby allowing the player to verify thatthe gaming device is in communications with a licensed gaming server110. Notably, if the player does not receive the indicator at theverification device or receives a different indicator than initiallyentered at the gaming device, the player may conclude that the gamingdevice may not be in communications with a licensed gaming server 110and should seek assistance.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown steps of a verification service800 according to another embodiment of the invention, which service isprovided through a combination of verification server 410 and averification device. According to this embodiment of the invention,verification server 410 does not exchange verification information withthe gaming device to be verified, unlike verification services 500, 600,and 700. One skilled in the art will recognize that while verificationservice 800 is described as a sequence of ordered steps, the specificorder of these steps may vary, one or more steps may be combined, andnot all steps may be required.

According to this embodiment of the invention, it is assumed a player isusing a gaming device 130 that is in communications with a gamingserver, presumably a licensed gaming server 110, and that the player iscurrently engaged in one or more gaming activities and/or convenienceservices, and/or that the player has completed one or more gamingactivities and/or convenience services. Alternatively, it is assumedthat the player may have completed one or more gaming activities and/orconvenience services and has turned off and/or logged out of the gamingdevice. According to this embodiment of the invention, the player maynow want to verify that the gaming device the player is currently usingor has completed using is/was in fact in communications with a licensedgaming server 110, rather than a bogus/malicious gaming server.

As disclosed herein, a licensed gaming server 110, for example, maymonitor a player's actions and may maintain as part of the player'sprofile information in database 180, for example, information associatedwith one or more gaming activities engaged in by a player, informationassociated with one or more convenience services engaged in by a player,and/or credit information of the player. According to this embodiment ofthe invention, a player may use a verification device 430 a/430 b/430 c,either directly or through an attendant, to access such player profileinformation and by doing such, may verify that the information isconsistent with what the player feels the information should be. If theinformation appears accurate, the player may conclude that the gamingdevice the player is currently using, or was using, is/was incommunications with a licensed gaming server 110. Alternatively, if theinformation does not appear accurate, the player may conclude that thegaming device is/was not in communications with a licensed gaming server110 and should seek assistance.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the verification device430 a/430 b/430 c need be at least operable to receive verificationinformation from verification server 410 and to convey this informationto a player and/or attendant, but is preferably also operable to receiveverification information from a player and/or attendant and to conveythis information to a verification server 410. For description purposesonly, verification service 800 will be described assuming that a playerhas a verification device 430 a or 430 b and is using this devicedirectly (i.e., not through an attendant) to verify the gaming device.

Beginning with steps 802 and 804, verification server 410 may initiallyestablish communications via communications network 450 with theverification device and may next receive a request for a verificationservice from the player via the verification device, as similarlydescribed in relation to steps 502 and 504 of verification service 500.Referring next to step 806, verification server 410 may next determineidentification information associated with the player and/or gamingdevice, such as player identification information, player securityinformation, and/or information relating to the gaming device 130 asdisclosed herein, although other types of information may be determined.According to this embodiment of the invention, the verification servermay use the identification information to access database 180, forexample, and in particular, may use the identification information toobtain player profile information, as further disclosed herein.According to an embodiment of the invention, the verification server maydetermine the identification information by receiving the identificationinformation from the verification device/player, as similarly describedin relation to step 506 of verification service 500, for example. Oneskilled in the art will recognize, however, that verification server 410may determine the identification information in other fashions.

Referring to step 808, verification server 410 may next confirm for theplayer that the player/verification device is in communications with alicensed verification server 410, as similarly described in relation tostep 508 of verification service 500.

Referring next to step 810, verification server 410 may use theidentification information to determine one or more indicators and inparticular, may use the identification information as an index, forexample, to database 180 in order to access the player's profileinformation and thereby determine one or more indicators. Specifically,as indicated, the player's profile information may include, for example,information associated with one or more gaming activities engaged in bya player (e.g., the name of the gaming activity currently engaged in bythe player), information associated with one or more convenienceservices engaged in by a player (e.g., an item purchased by the player),and/or credit information of the player (e.g., a credit amount of theplayer). According to an embodiment of the invention, the verificationserver may use the identification information as an index to database180 in order to access the player's profile information and maythereafter automatically select one or more predetermined pieces of theabove described information (or other types of information), whichinformation may be generally referred to in the context of thisembodiment as one or more indicators. According to another embodiment ofthe invention, the verification server and/or verification device mayprompt the player (e.g., through an audible, textual, and/or graphicalprompt) and/or present the player with one or more options as to thetype(s) of information the player would like to access from the player'sprofile information in database 180. The verification server maythereafter receive the player's selection(s) and select one or morepieces of the player's profile information (i.e., indicator(s)) based onthese selection(s).

Referring next to step 812, verification server 410 may send theaccessed information (i.e., indicator(s)) to the verification device,causing the verification device to make the information known to theplayer as audible values, textual values, etc. As indicated above, ifthe information appears accurate, the player may conclude that gamingdevice the player is currently using, or was using, is/was incommunications with a licensed gaming server 110. Alternatively, if theinformation does not appear accurate, the player may conclude that thegaming device is/was not in communications with a licensed gaming server110 and should seek assistance.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown steps of a verification service900 according to another embodiment of the invention, which service isprovided through a combination of verification server 410 and a gamingdevice. According to this embodiment of the invention, verificationserver 410 does not exchange verification information with averification device, unlike verification services 500, 600, 700, and800. In other words, according to this embodiment of the invention, averification device may not be needed to verify a gaming device. Oneskilled in the art will recognize that while verification service 900 isdescribed as a sequence of ordered steps, the specific order of thesesteps may vary, one or more steps may be combined, and not all steps maybe required.

As similarly described for verification service 500, according to thisembodiment, it is assumed a player is using a gaming device 130 that isalready in communications with a gaming server, presumably a licensedgaming server 110, and that if required, the player has already enteredany required player identification information and/or player securityinformation. Similar to above, the player may be at any one of variousstates with respect to the player's use of the gaming device. It shouldbe noted that according to this embodiment of the invention, gamingdevice 130 may require one or more applications that operate inconjunction with applications 416 on the verification server to provideverification service 900.

Beginning with step 902 of verification service 900, verification server410 may initially receive a request for verification service from theplayer via the gaming device. The player may make the request at thegaming device as an audible command, an audible tone (e.g., selecting analphanumeric button on a phone), by depressing a hard button, or byselecting a soft button and/or display option made available through adisplay 132, for example. One skilled in the art will recognize that theplayer may make the request in other ways. The gaming device may sendthe request to the verification server either directly, or via gamingserver 110.

Referring next to step 904, verification server 410 may next determineidentification information associated with the player and/or gamingdevice, such as player identification information, player securityinformation, and/or information relating to the gaming device 130 asdisclosed herein, although other types of information may be determined.According to this embodiment of the invention, the verification servermay use the identification information to access database 180, forexample, and in particular, may use the identification information toobtain player profile information, as further disclosed herein.According to an embodiment of the invention, the verification server maydetermine the identification information by receiving the identificationinformation from the gaming device/player, as similarly described inrelation to step 620 of verification service 600, for example. Oneskilled in the art will recognize, however, that verification server 410may determine the identification information in other fashions.

Referring to step 906, verification server 410 may next use theidentification information to determine one or more indicators and inparticular, may use the identification information as an index, forexample, to database 180 in order to access the player's profileinformation and thereby determine one or more indicators. As disclosedherein, the player's profile information may include player securityinformation related to the player, such as personal informationassociated with the player (e.g., the player's maiden name, a name ofthe player's pet, etc) and/or a random value specified by the player.According to an embodiment of the invention and as disclosed herein, aplayer may specify some or all of the player security information duringa registration period prior to the start of any gaming activity and/orengaging in any convenience services.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the verification server mayuse the identification information as an index to database 180 in orderto access the player's profile information and may thereafterautomatically select one or more pieces of the above describedinformation (or other types of information), which information may begenerally referred to in the context of this embodiment as one or moreindicators. According to another embodiment of the invention, theverification server and/or gaming device may prompt the player and/orpresent the player with one or more options as to the type(s) ofinformation the player would like to access from the player's profileinformation in database 180. The verification server may thereafterreceive the player's selection(s) and select one or more pieces of theplayer's profile information (i.e., indicator(s)) based on theseselection(s).

Referring next to step 908, the verification server may send theaccessed information (i.e., indicator(s)) to the gaming device via thegaming server 110, causing the gaming device to make the informationknown to the player as audible values, textual values, etc. As anexample, when the verification server automatically accesses theinformation and presents the information to the player, the informationmay be presented as: “Your maiden name is: Smith”, for example.Alternatively, if the player is able to select the type(s) ofinformation to be accessed, in response to the player selecting, “Whatis your maiden name?”, for example, the verification serve may respondwith “Smith”.

According to this embodiment of the invention, by having the playerspecify player security information during a registration period priorto the start of any gaming activity and/or engaging in any convenienceservices and by then allowing the player to access such information fromthe gaming device, the player may conclude that when the accessedinformation is accurate, the gaming device the player is currently usingis in communications with a licensed gaming server 110. Alternatively,if the information is not accurate, the player may conclude that thegaming device is not in communications with a licensed gaming server 110and should seek assistance.

Although the present invention has been described in relation toparticular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modificationsand other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It ispreferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by thespecific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

1. A method comprising: receiving from a gaming device a request toverify that the gaming device is in communications with a gaming server;in response to the request, determining an indicator; and sending theindicator via the gaming server to the gaming device.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, in which the gaming device comprises a device operable toprovide at least one gaming activity to a player using the gamingdevice.
 3. The method of claim 2, in which the gaming device is operableto provide the at least one gaming activity together with the gamingserver.
 4. The method of claim 3, in which the at least one gamingactivity comprises at least one of: a gambling activity, wagering on anevent, a lottery activity, and a non-gambling activity.
 5. The method ofclaim 3, in which the gaming device is also operable to provide to theplayer at least one convenience service.
 6. The method of claim 5, inwhich the at least one convenience service comprises at least one of: arestaurant service, an entertainment service, a hotel service, a moneymanagement service, a news service, and a financial exchange service. 7.The method of claim 1, in which the gaming server comprises a computingdevice operable to provide through the gaming device at least one gamingactivity to a player using the gaming device.
 8. The method of claim 7,in which the gaming server is also operable to provide through thegaming device at least one convenience service to the player.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, in which the indicator comprises at least one of: analphanumeric text value, a plurality of alphanumeric text values, anaudible signal, an audible tone, an audible text value, and a pluralityof audible text values.
 10. The method of claim 1, in which theindicator comprises personal information associated with a player usingthe gaming device.
 11. The method of claim 1, in which the indicatorcomprises a common question and an answer to the common question, and inwhich the answer comprises personal information associated with a playerusing the gaming device.
 12. The method of claim 1, in which theindicator comprises an unfinished statement and a completion to theunfinished statement, and in which the completion to the unfinishedstatement comprises personal information associated with a player usingthe gaming device.
 13. The method of claim 1, in which the indicatorcomprises a value specified by a player using the gaming device.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, in which the value is specified by the player duringa registration period.
 15. The method of claim 1, in which the indicatoris know to a player using the gaming device prior to the receiving ofthe request.
 16. The method of claim 1, in which determining theindicator comprises using identification information to determine theindicator.
 17. The method of claim 16, in which using the identificationinformation to determine the indicator comprises accessing a databasebased on the identification information to determine the indicator. 18.The method of claim 17, in which the database is populated with theindictor during a registration period.
 19. The method of claim 16, inwhich the identification information comprises at least one of: a nameof a player using the gaming device, security information associatedwith the player using the gaming device, a tracking value assigned tothe gaming device, and a name assigned to the gaming device.
 20. Themethod of claim 16, further comprising receiving the identificationinformation from the gaming device.
 21. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising determining the identification information based oncommunications with the gaming device.
 22. The method of claim 1, inwhich determining the indicator comprises: receiving from the gamingdevice a selection as to a type of indicator; and using identificationinformation and the selection to determine the indicator.
 23. Anapparatus comprising a computing device operable to perform the methodof claim
 1. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, in which the computing devicecomprises the gaming server.
 25. A method comprising: receiving from agaming device a request; in response to the request, usingidentification information to determine an indicator, in which theindicator is known to a player of the gaming device; and sending theindicator via a gaming server to the gaming device, in which the gamingdevice together with the gaming server is operable to provide at leastone gaming activity to the player.
 26. The method of claim 25, furthercomprising: receiving from the gaming device a selection as to a type ofindicator; and using the identification information and the selection todetermine the indicator.